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"Twelve guards... four on each end... two on each side... a lookout... possibly scouts in the woods, watch your backs." Ignis said to the 10 warriors grouped at the base of the tree he was in. They grunted and nodded in acknowledgment, before taking up positions along the dilapidated road. Ignis vaulted down from his vantage point, and jerked his chain loose from the greenish bark. He brought his spyglass back up to his eye, examining the prisoners in the ever nearing caravan.

"Mostly humans and Khazra, a Lacuni even.. though there are several demons, and an angel or two in the cages as well. They must be rounding up rebels and remnants of Heaven as well." Ignis said to Cang, his lifelong friend and comrade.

"Indeed, we are going to need to cause a distraction in order for us to free the captives. Perhaps some of you warriors could serve such a purpose." he replied, motioning to several of the nearby warriors. They nodded, and took bottles of a yellow liquid from their packs, and wrapped their arrows in cloth. Ignis knew what they had planned, and pointed out the three warriors to the rest of the group. They nodded silently, noting the coming distraction.

Ignis cursed his stomach for growling, he was not about to be given away by his growing hunger. He looked in his pack, and withdrew a slice of bread, downing it in seconds. He had barely eaten in the three days it took them to outstrip the caravan, the game was growing scarce and the cropland even more so. He plucked a strawberry from the ground below, popping it in his mouth and savoring the flavor it added to the bread. He plucked another from the shrub, and tossed it to Cang. He said nothing, merely offering a nonchalant glance. If they were to die, at least they would have a final meal.

Ignis could suddenly hear the sounds of the caravan, it was growing even closer. The bones that adorned the cages clattered, and the imp serving as a lookout chittered endlessly, tormenting the slaves in between glances at the woods. The guards stood taller than most of the men he accompanied, save Brent, the resident axe man. He shot a glance towards him, and pointed at the guards. Brent nodded, knowing he would have to go toe to toe with at least one of them. The guards fiddled with their thick armor, obviously bored from the trek through the countryside. Mere meters away, Ignis saw several bottles fly from the woods, and shatter on the road in front of the caravan. The guards immediately raised their heads in the air, noses sniffing for the scent of what threw the bottles. As if in response, several burning arrows shot from the woods, and set the ground aflame beneath the guards.

They were surprised, but hardly hurt. They stepped out of the fire just as the ambush party rushed up to greet them, Brent immediately taking one in the face with his axe. Ignis grinned, and whipped his chain around the legs of the nearest demon, bringing him to the ground with a sickening crack as his head hit the cobblestone pathway. Ignis curb stomped him for good measure, his steel boots grinding into the fiends skull. He saw Cang battling a demon as well, gaining the upper hand before dispating him. He looked to the nearby hill, and saw the archers rush down, firing arrows as they ran, taking the demon nearest the cage. They threw it open, yelling for the slaves to take arms if they could.

6 new demons burst from the bushes, obviously advance scouts who failed to spot their ambush. Ignis whipped his chain out towards one of them, the spikes burying deep into the flesh of its shoulder. The demon howled, and threw his axe at Ignis. He yanked the chain backwards, pulling him off balance before jerking his arm downwards, loosing the dagger in his sleeve and sending it straight into the creatures spine.

"OUR BACKS, THEY'RE COMING FROM THE WOODS!" Ignis yelled, and steeled himself for the oncoming onslaught.

The chains that were now weakened in the confusion, and Litharius took this chance to run. Knowing that this could be his last chance to ever live freely again, he tore off the chains from his body and looked to his companions. One of them, an angel by the name of Halcyon, caught his eye, and for a split moment, he found some memories in the angel, but it was not the time to think about memories.

"DO WHAT YOU MUST AND LEAVE!" MorteDor yelled above the chaos. The others looked at his grotesque features that looked more like a demonic angel than anything, but in this panic there was no choice but to run. The demons were to surely summon more of their companions, and they were short on numbers.

Litharius ran to what seemed to be his rescuer, and yelled, "WE MUST RUN! WE HAVE NO CHANCE!"

The demons were starting to surround them, and they were in the middle of a massacre. They needed something to save them.

Etapas, with his facial features hidden by his hood, surveyed the other captives. A few angels, goatmen and even a Hell Cat. It seemed like this group of demons were capable - to manage to ensanre so many different species. Yes, the demons, he thought in detest. The very demons that had wiped out his entire clan, and most of all - his sister. A small tear flowed down his face. He murmured to himself; "I'm sorry sister. I wish I could have helped...now everyone is gone, and I'm sure to follow".

Not yet, young one, a dark, raspy voice said. The voice seemed to shake his very soul - and made him shudder with unexplainable fear. You will be free in mere seconds.As soon as the voice had dissapeared, Etapas heard several bottles breaking outside, and a commotion ongoing outside. After only a few seconds, the cage was torn apart - and as the voice promised, freedom had shone itself. But, who had freed him? And who was speaking to him? Maybe his saviors had answers. As soon as the coast had looked clear, Etapas had jumped from out of the last vestiges of the cage, and joined a group of what had looked like a group of mercenaries and a monk. Demons had begun to flow from the forest in an ambush, and Etapas knew he had to fight - and prove his worth, or what little he had.

Who said you were nothing? Go, and fight young one! You are more than you think, the dark voice had said once again. Etapas whispered, "Tamsa, Irus - let us fight!" as two blades appeared from his sleeves - one made of the darkest obsidian and the other as bright and pure as diamond. He charged at the closest demon to him, who wielded one large sword and had heavy armour covering his entire body. Etapas stepped forward, and eyed the demon - who seemed to be moving slowly. Maybe it is just the heavy armour and sword? he asked himself. Etapas had jumped up, and noticed a small opening in the demon's armour, and thrust his dark blade, Tamsa. The demon had howled and back off a bit. Before the demon had a chance to recuperate; however, Etapas had lunged forward again, this time swinging with his lighter blade, he shouted "May your death be quick and filled with grace!" as Irus cleanly sliced off the defiled head of his enemy.

With ever growing confidence in himself, Etapas now looked around - only to see even more enemies close in on him. Do not fear, child. Time is on your side.


ooc: hmmm, black can not be seen with this skin. Frack, =/

While sitting in the cage, trying to yank herself free, Simi wondered what the chains that bound her were made of, she could not break free of them and she was getting hungry. All these yummy smelling humans and even goatmen and all out of my reach, she thought to herself.

She heard glass breaking and noticed bottles were crashing all around, one hit the cage near her and its contents splashed on her, she licked it up and smacked her lips. Mmmm tasty, but Simi not thirsty, Simi is hungry. The door to the cage popped open and Simi struggled to be free, but she could not get out from her restraints. Demons were running out of the woods and she thought she would be saved now, but they were being attacked by the other prisoners. She screamed in frustration, shaking and pulling trying to get free. She looked up and a demon had made it to the cage and yanked the chains off. Simi was about to thank him when he grabbed her up and tried to drag her off saying, “you are my prisoner now you traitor.”

“Nooooo, Simi not a traitor.” The demon yanked her and said “shut up, you will bring a fine reward when I bring you in…traitor. You will be torn apart and wish I had killed you here and now when my brothers are finished with you”, and he spat on her. It was then that Simi realized that she would be better off with her fellow prisoners. She closed her eyes, let her hunger build, and lunged after the demon. Her claws sank through his torso and she drew out his innards, gulping and slurping them down. Then she started gnawing on the rest of him, teeth going through the demon skin easily, instantly shredding him. She paused and looked down at the demon, “now they will for sure think Simi is a traitor.” Her hunger kicked in again from smell of all the blood and carnage, she shrugged and said “let them think that, Simi will live.”

She devoured the demon meat, for meat was all it was to her now, licking and smacking her lips at the dripping blood until she was full. There was nothing left of the demon but one of his legs. Simi looked around and found some rope, tied it around the leg and attached it to her waist, and went off toward the others dragging the leg behind. When they saw her coming their eyes grew wide in terror. “No worries humans, Simi is your friend, for now, and is full. I also has a snack for later”, she said as she patted the leg grinning widely so that all her razor sharp teeth showed. She noticed the disgust in their eyes and said, “would you rather that I gnaw on one of you later or this leg?” She snapped her jaws at them and laughed when they stepped back.

Desmond stepped out of his cage studying the carnage. The free captives were already joining the fight slaughtering demons. One of them even devouring one whole. Desmond smiled and dissapeared in the darkness. He surveyed what was going on. He then studied the humans who came to there rescue. A vary unlikely thing to see now a days. He reached out his claw and grabbed an arrow that was flying by that would have hit one of the humans. Desmond fiddled with it for a while then decided to act. He turned and shoved the arrow into a small demons eye. It screamed and tried to attack but Desmond grabbed him by the throat and they moved a little to the side of the battle. Desmond's eye glimmered as the demon screamed and squirmed. Desmond then stuck his claw in the demons arm and tore it off. The demon screamed some more. "Looks like i'm going to have fun after all." He mumbled to himself. "Prepare to scream in agony as so many of your masters have made me do before."

Scorpius suddenly wakens from the explosive sounds of battle. He observes who is making a racket. It seems a band of mercenaries is here to help us out. Damn cage, won't let me call upon my weapons. Watches as a small demon, who doesn't seem very bright, devour another demon that said he would take the traitor to his brothers. I'm gonna have to keep my eye on that one. Don't want to get eaten. Goddamn am I hungry, stuck in this cage for four days already. "COULD SOMEBODY BREAK MY CAGE OPEN? I'M NOT EXACTLY WHAT YOU CALL STRONG!" He watches and he waits for someone to break the door open. I hope there is a river nearby.

"OUR BACKS, THEY'RE COMING FROM THE WOODS!" Cang heard Ingis say as he quickly dispached the demon in front of him. He turned toward the chaos amassing in the woods, and made a dash for the first demon he could see. He moved closer and closer toward the unsuspecting demon This should make for an easy victory Cang thought. Suddenly he felt something blunt thrust at his legs, quickly knocking them out for beneath him sending him falling to the ground. In an attempt to regain his composure Cang looked up at the beast who had done this, and it was none other than one of the large demons he had seen defending the cage no longer than 5 minutes ago.

"Time to die, human, Sanctuary is ours now." the demon growled at Cang, whom was still stunned from the blow to his legs. The giant behemoth swung his large axe above his head and began to send it crashing down towards Cang. In a desperate attempt to stop his demise, Cang thrust his staff at the demons chest with utmost accuracy. The demon was caught off guard by this and stumbled back a few steps dropping his axe.

Now is the time to strike

Cang quickly moved to his feet and faced the demon, "Rasha Mali Hakil!" Cang shouted. His eyes began to glow a pale blue as he unleashed a flurry of blows from his staff to the demon, bringing the giant to near death. Cang saw his opportunity to destroy the enemy and channeled the energy from his hands ans eyes to the end of his staff, which began to glow in a deep rich blue. Cang pointed the tip of his staff toward the demon and quick and efficiently impaled the behemoth as if he were nothing but a mere sack of flour. He watched the demon scream in agony as he fell to the ground beneath, soaked in blood.

"COULD SOMEBODY BREAK MY CAGE OPEN? I'M NOT EXACTLY WHAT YOU CALL STRONG!" Cang heard somebody yell from the nearby cage. He made his way toward the cage and grabbed it with both hands. He closed his eyes and channeled all of his energy to his hands, grasping the cage. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and with almost inhuman strength he tore the cage door off. "Now come, help us with the battle that is at hand" Cang said to the man, who seemed to be thinking to himself. Cang quickly turned back toward the battlefield to help his comrades.

With the door to the cage ripped off, Scorpius steps out and leaps to a tall tree. Climbing quickly, he reaches the top and summons his longbow Stinger. He then looks down and starts picking off demons one by one, an arrow for each as the toxins leech into demons' blood and rip apart their veins, leaving only when their racked bodies finally drop into the pool of blood that is dripping from their every orifice.

The world around him had the stench of blood, and MorteDor knew that his life was flashing before him, the false and the true. The woods offered a great amount of cover, where he could slip away, unnoticed, and figure out his past. Where did he come from? Who was he? And why was he here? The goatmen, humans, angels, and even the demons fought against the oncoming horde. Yet something help him back. The chains were broken, and these prisoners were the only few that did not spit at him when they saw him.

MorteDor went to the caravan with all the equipment and found his sword, the Sword of Light. He made his decision. He was going to stay and help the prisoners.

His powers were weakened, and so he used his sword. The nearest demon, which was the guard that whipped him every countless minute, caught his eye. With nothing but revenge in his mind, he plunged his sword through the armor of the demon, who had not seen him coming. He was dead before he hit the ground. He heard a yell from a human yell "COULD SOMEONE BREAK MY CAGE OPEN? I'M NOT EXACTLY WHAT YOU CALL STRONG?" It came from the human that he befriended along their travels. He ran toward the direction of the sound, and saw that another human broke open his cage.

The other human said something that he could not hear over the roar of the chaos around him. But then he left him, and MorteDor went to help him up.

"Stand up. We have no time for thinking. Help us!" yelled MorteDor. The demons were surrounding him, and he was prepared to fight. Yet the human was not helping him. He knew he needed help to survive the oncoming destruction of the demons.

Bane sat in his cage quietly, taking in the smells and sounds that surrounded him. The foul stench of his demon captives filled his senses, blinding him to what else laid beyond his cage. The chitter chatter of the other humans, demons, and angels bombarded his ears, disgusting him that he feel pray to the same demons who managed to capture these humans.

Suddenly, the sound of glass silenced everyone as the smell of the flammable liquid wafted through the air. Bane raised himself, alerted and alarmed to what this new event meant. Flames soon erupted around the cage as the warmth brushed up against Bane's fur. Human yelling soon followed as the battle began. Swords and chains clanked together followed by the sound of flesh ripping from its host. The bones, wood, and metal of the cages soon began to give away as unknown humans rescued all of them from their prison.

Bane hesitated only for a second at the shame of being rescued by humans. Giving way to this shame, Bane jumped at the opportunity of freedom and joined the others in their fight against their captors. Angles, demons, humans, and the in between, much like himself, all joined forces to overcome these oppressors.

Bane placed his aim on the imp that sat on the caravan that had held them. Sick of his incessant chatter, the blood that soon filled the streets began to empower Bane. The smell of the iron filled liquid poured through the air as he sniffed up every last bit. Fueling his anger even further, Bane lept up on top of the cart, hoping to find his victim. He stood still for only a brief moment to collect himself. He focused on the snickers that left the imps mouth uncontrollably. Locating his presence, Bane ran across the bones that covered the wagon and thrusted his horns toward the imp. In the nick of time, the imp had managed to teleport himself out of the way and onto the ground. Even the soft landing of the minuscule demon upon the pavement was enough for Bane to recognize his new location.

He jumped off of the caravan near the imp ready to attack again. As he took a step forward, he felt the cold steel of an axe beneath his hoof. He bent down to grab the weapon. He lid his hand against the sharp blade and accustomed himself to the weight. He rose it up in the air and charged toward the imp. As if acting upon instinct, the imp jumped backwards firing a bolt from his hand. Bane heard the crackle of the imps attack and quickly jumped to his left missing the attack. He jumped back to the right re-centering himself on his charge towards the imp. He swung the axe with all of his might towards the imp. As the imp once again disappeared, his axe drove deep into the wood of a near by tree. Bane lifted his leg and placed his hoof against the trunk. With all of his strength, he pushed off of the tree releasing his axe from its holding place.

Bane regathered himself and again charged for the imp. He rose his axe in the air again, ready to attempt his attack again. However, not to be fooled again, Bane hesitated his attack as the imp teleported again in an act of defense. With one quick sniff of the air, Bane relocated his target and swung his axe behind him, severing the imps right arm from the rest of his body. Bane quickly turned around and grabbed the demon by his throat. Holding him up high above the street, the imps feet flailed back and forth as he struggled to free himself from the strength of Bane's grip. Before giving him the chance, Bane shoved his victim into the pavement below, shattering his skull and spilling his brains onto the streets.

He stood for a second to hear some humans calling for help as others bravely fought against the demonic forces. Usually not one to join any group of humans or anything other than other goatmen, Bane knew this was his only chance to survive this ordeal. For now, he would fight side by side with these other captives in their fight for freedom.

Halcyon, disoriented from all the action around him, was one of the last to stumble out of the caravan.

"Where's my sowrd?!"

He dashed around many demons, studying their backs for the sheath of his enchanted sword. It's sheath was unlike any other: an iron sheath, adorned with beautiful, ebony, ornate patterns that glistened in the sunlight. Most anybody who observed him walking with it were enticed by the sheath alone, but what was inside the sheath would have make them tremble in awe.

He didn't have to look long until he saw one of the demons who knocked him out, Halcyon's beautiful sword wrapped around his waist as if he had originally owned it. How pretentious, thought Halcyon. The demon rushing on his way to attack a prisoner, his eyes filled with fire and his devilish sword wielded. Halcyon caught him with a broadside punch to the back of the head. The demon hit the ground with a solid, satisfying thud and groaned in immense pain.

"And this would be mine, hellspawn..."

Halcyon took the sheath off of the demon's waist and drew his sword. The sword was a brilliant silver, almost appearing icy in the blinding light, and was smooth as the air it cut through. It was enchanted never to go dull, even in the most demanding of battles. This sword was the only possession Halcyon was allowed to keep after his banishment from heaven, so he cherished this blade more than his own mortality...

He looked at the fallen demon. It was writhing in pain on the ground. Halcyon, being the angel of mercy he is, thought it would be best suited to put the demon out of his misery. He lay the sword on the demon's neck. The skin on it's neck started to turn blue and crack. Blood trickled through the cracks, running over the blade, and the blade met the fiery blood with it's own frigid metal. The demon's whole body started to blue and crack, and the demon's eyes turned inside it's eyelids.

"... and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do."

Halcyon tilted the blade perpendicular to the demon's neck and cut across. The demon convulsed and threw up the rest of the blood that wasn't already frozen.

Mayh woke up with liquid dropping in her face. Her vision was blurred, but she felt the scent of blood and the sounds of clashing steel outside. Soon she remembered where she was. Helpless, inside a cage, like an animal… No strength to break free, but not desperate enough to ask for help.
She touched the blood on her face and searched for the source. A giant pool of blood was nearby, splashed on the ground and walls, without any nearby body or limbs.
“What the h… Demon blood… Its risk but I have no real choice” thought Mayh.
Mayh took out the bandages from her arms threw it in the massive blood stains, letting it absorb the substance. She prayed for her goddess Bastet, ritualizing an incantation, and then poured the liquid in her mouth, sealing the ritual of the blood.
She quickly felt the power flowing, the wounds closing. With the absorbed demonic might, she broke the prison, running free. Hastily she searched for her weapons in the stolen packages and found her whip and axe.“Great, they are still here, now I’ve to find a safe place to rest… I don’t have much time until this fell blood starts to punish me”.
Mayh finally exit the caravan. Outside a battle was breaking. “Resistance” she deduced when she saw a multitude of creatures struggling in the same side. She knew she had no bounds to those and leave that place was her priority. But ingratitude is a sin in Mayh’s book and she had to at least look in the eyes of her saviors.
She charged in battle, looking for the closest foe. A demon was engaging a group of human warriors and did not see her approaching. Using the opportunity, Mayh cleaved the enemies back with great strength, tearing down the guardian in two. Her battle lust was uncommon, caused by the usage of demonic blood.
She engaged another demon, this time no sneak attacks involved. She successfully used her whip to disarm him, but right when she was ready to drive her axe in the creature’s face, the tainted blood toke effect and she fell on ground, an unbearable ache dominated her body. Mayh was defenseless when the demon moved closer, ready to tear apart her fragile body.

Scorpius saw what seems to be a crimson cat-like humanoid on the ground twitching as a large demon moved in for the kill. He quickly aimed Stinger and unleashed a deadly arrow that struck the demon between the eyes. Seeing it defenseless, he shouldered his longbow and leaped for the tree. On his way, a pair of identical Daggers suddenly materialized in his hands. He reached the crimson creature he recognized as the Sabre Cat that was a prisoner also. Remembering the speed and agility of such a creature, he wondered how she got caught. "Are you alright?" Scorpius suddenly senses an imp homing in on him. He flips his grip and thrusts just as an imp materializes and it falls over dead. "I'll stay here until either the fight is over or you are recovered enough to fight."

Halcyon stood up and surveyed his surroundings, keeping his guard up. Several brutal battles, massive bloodshed, and cries of agony were all he observed. He saw mortals, his eternal brothers, being slaughtered by ferocious hellspawn, agony painted on their faces.

"Enough... this needs to end quickly or I'll regret inaction for the rest of my life."

He dashed over to two demons approaching from the bushes: disfigureds. Their eyes, filled with rage, sought without end an easy kill. The disfigured were a force to be reckoned with in battle, mostly due to the fact that they attacked mercilessly and often in packs.

Two more disfigureds followed them from the brush and Halcyon sprung into action. He drove his sword into the side of one and, while keeping his grip on the sword, turned around and shot an ice missile: just in time. The missile caught the disfigured right in the chest, throwing it backwards. Another disfigured, however, was able to slip by Halcyon's awareness and struck him broadside with a charge. Halcyon was sent tumbling a few yards and, while tumbling, he felt his own ribs crack. He yelled in agony and the disfigured approached him. In the corner of his eye, he saw the last disfigured charge into the battle...

Cang dashed toward the wood amid the confusion and terror. He noted on particular freed prisoner who efficiently dispatched two disfigureds efficiently with a seemingly unreal blade that glimmered crimson in the sunlight with the blood of his enemies. The Angel stood triumphantly when suddenly an unaccounted for disfigured violently knocked the Angel to the ground. The disfigured approached the fallen warrior slowly and confidently, as if the Angel was already dead.

"May the power of The Brotherhood give me strength." Cang said as he channeled his thoughts to his staff. The staff seemed to take on a mind of its own, shaking violently in Cangs hand, pulsing with energy. Quickly, Cang spun the staff and thrust it forward, sending a brilliant green blade like missile from both ends of the staff. The beam of magic traveled towards the demon at an unreal pace, gaining energy as it inched closer to the disfigured. The green bolt cut through the demon as if it were butter, littering its innards across the wood. Cang ran towards the fallen Angel and extended his hand.

"Come, brother, there is a battle at hand. We will tend to your wounds after."

His eyes were a blur as he sat staring straight ahead with his knees at his chest, hardly moving. His head rested against the cart that held his body but his mind had escaped long ago, it was far away searching for answers, answers ever just out of reach. His tongue felt like sandpaper, dry and horrid in his mouth, he hadn't had a drink in days. 'Surely demons would want their prisoners kept alive', he thought; 'at least until their would be destination.' Why had he been rounded up and taken hostage?' That question had ever nagged at his mind since his capture. He was no one special, just a hardworking soul trying to make a decent living and minding his own business. He rarely got involved in other people's affairs, he generally kept to himself.

Did he know some sort of information that the hell-spawn wanted? 'That must be it', he thought, 'why else would they want me?' He searched his mind, countless facts and figures, stories and sagas, but he could find nothing of possibility. He must have forgotten. Oh how he yearned to know what knowledge he possessed! The day of his imprisonment seemed so long ago, almost in another lifetime. But it remained so vividly clear in his mind. Again and again he went over the details of how easily the town had fallen and how helpless he had felt. He did not even remember the name of the town he had been taken in, just another place here and there wherever he could trade in his day's takings for some coin. Often just enough for a meal or a bed or a roof over his head or a perhaps just a hayloft to sleep in. There were a lot of things he did remember but towns or the names of towns was not one of them. He did not associate himself with the populace much, he preferred to be on his own. Only as a source of uncommon leisure after a hard days work shifting rock or emptying veins, did he venture into a community. Yet the demons had been lying in wait, specifically for him, just inside the town. Sure, he would have gotten a good deals worth of coin on that day for he had found a richer stream that had ended his day early. But obviously the Demon weren't interested in the gold that still filled his pockets as they had lept on him without warning. There was nothing he could have done against those odds, and he was not a gambling man.

One demon was about to bash him over the head, when another stopped him and viciously slit the other demons throat, leaving him gagging and gasping for air as the wretch clawed futilely, sinking slowly to the ground. "Hands off!" The leader of the small group had yelled. "Do not harm this one. He may carry information that Hell needs. Hands off or I'll gut you like a boned fish." The demon's voice resembled ground charcoal he thought, an very unpleasant sound. He was then ferried away, escorted by the three remaining demons as the fourth slowly choked out his life in the dust. He was pushed into a cart with five spiked and heavy wheels drawn by massive beasts of burden. The cart's fifth wheel was enormous and was located between the front two, which it belittled and walking inside it was a large cave troll. He supposed that the troll aided the other beasts in the movement of the cart. Like the troll the beasts were large and ugly and full of power but instead yielded a massive yolk of many harnesses that slowly shifted the weight of the cart forward. Giant bones made up the skeleton of the cage, bound together with skins and different ropes and hides. And atop the wheel, though suspended above it, sat the driver, an old bloated bag of soars and scars, squinting madly into the sun at his bellowing beasts. The driver held the long reins of the team with one hand and with the other he grasped a cruel looking device in his huge hand that was very much like a whip which he lashed constantly to start out his caravan moving ever onwards. And the last addition to this odd contraption was an annoying little imp situated at the back of the wagon on a pole that rose up into the air that shouted the odds at everything and everyone, ever on the lookout.

Still thinking deeply, Tate felt his head shake, softer, and then harder immediately after and repeatedly. His head swam, he tried to paw away at the space in front of him fending off against an unseen foe. Yet his hands struck a body, surely not a human body, this body had wings and he looked up to an ageless face. "Wake up!" a voice yelled seemingly audibly uneven, the sound going in and out of Tate's mind. "Wake up man! You must get out of your restraints, I managed mine but I need my sword to set you free. Wait here!" And with that the figure ran out of the caravan hurrying to and from each fallen demons corpse. "Looking for something, he is," Tate said aloud in a daze to himself. "Hope he finds what he's looking for, don't you Mother? He seems like such a nice man. Didn't know a man who had a pair wings before, though, have you Mother? Wonder how he keeps them on? Must fall off easy, Oh! And how hard they must be to keep clean, eh mother? Bet he wouldn't want to get them dirty, have a time of it getting stains out and such wouldn't he? Awful pain that would be. Mind you Mother, I'd help the poor fellow, he seems like such a nice man" Tate's babble to himself continued until the angel returned and broke free his bonds with a touch from his blade; the chains shattering to the ground in a heap of dust. The angel then touched Tate's shoulder and spoke a few words, dispelling the intoxicating Demon powers that had settled in the man's mind.

Tate snapped awake. His brain whirred, he leaped up from the cart floor and almost hit his head on the bone structure. "What happened? Where am I? Who are you?" He shouted at the angel. The angelic being shouted back: "There's no time, we are under attack, Get out of the wagon and join the fight!" And with that the angel shouting at the others to join and the everyone remaining rallied behind him and charged out of the van to meet oncoming demons filtering out from the trees.

Many questions came and went as Tate's brain came back to reality, spinning round like a giant luscent whirlpool right before his eyes. A thousand different pictures and a thousand different words, all speeding round the limits of his vision, he had never seen that before. Pictures of his past and his family and friends lives gone and passed, all interconnected. He saw too much that scared him and too much that made him wonder, more and more questions, never enough answers. Gathering his wits with a shout and a curse he stumbled out of the wagon, his surroundings lurid and still a bit dizzy, he looked around at the dead Troll in the giant wheel and the driver's bloated body who fell off the top with an arrow through his spine and a finishing blow dealt with a sword through his eye.

Tate was the last to exit the caravan, he saw the group led by the angel battling hard trying to route to a group of humans volleying arrows and parrying weapons all about them wildly as hordes of red and black demon spawn churned around in chaos hacking, slashing and burning. He ran and scrambling amongst the numerous dead bodies, he found two heavy swords amongst them, and wielding them at either side, ran towards the defenders shouting. His voice carried a rallying cry as he hurriedly approached: "Back to the fire with you! The Highs help us!"

Etapas stood still, watching the oncoming hordes of demons and his strange allies fighting them back... or at least attempting to. Everything around him seemed to be moving at a slow pace, even his own body felt like it was stuck in slow motion. He noticed the monk assisting the angel who had been brutally maimed by a charging disfigured. Closing his eyes, and using all of his might - Etapas began to move, and at a normal in his own perception. However, everyone and everything still moved at a slower pace than what must he true reality was.

After arriving to the side of the aiding monk, Etapas said lowly, "Thank you for our rescue. I am forever in your debt, sir. If you ever need me anywhere, do not hesitate to ask".As he finished talking, 2 more disfigured had appeared. Taking a deep breath, he called to his blades once again and charged towards them. Neither of the ugly beasts had time to react to Etapas' new found speed, and both of their heads had been cleanly sliced off by the white blade - Irus. After stopping his quick assault, he added in his prayer, "May you die with grace mercy".

Only a mere moment after slaying the two figures, Etapas' perception of everything around him returned to normal and at what seemed to be a normal pace. The complete and unaccustomed change in pace took a hard toll on the young boy, and he fell on one knee and withdrew both blades to catch his breath. He took his hood off, letting is dark hair flow free, and feel the wind blow against his face. The air he breathed was fouled with the stench of death and decay, but his mind was elsewhere. Why did everything appear slow? And what is that horrifying voice? Is this 'voice' the cause for a change? Did he summon these rescuers to aid in our escape? Either way, I owe them, and I need to find out what is going on with me. Most of all, I need to rest. My body is sore and tense - was I really moving so fast as to have such a huge toll being taken on my very body? Even my mind feels exhausted.

Without saying a word, he shifted slowly made his way back to the monk and knelt beside him and the wounded angel. He merely stood still, awaiting for orders. Until then, he would catch his breath, and search for answers.

After snapping her jaws at the other prisoners she glimpsed another demon heading straight for them. She crouched down ready to leap forward, the other prisoners seeing her crouch became defensive and took another step back.

"Stop and duck," she yelled. Launching herself ahead leaping over them sprinting as fast as her little legs would go. She slowed as she neared the charging demon, looking for the right moment and leaped again right onto the demons torso. She plunged her claws in so she would not slip, opened her mouth and bit off the demons arm. The demon tried to shake Simi off but that just caused her to sink her claws in deeper. Her teeth were now shredding his shoulder and upper chest. She tore out a big chunk of meat and spit it out. The demon raised its head and let out a scream and that is when Simi pulled out her right arm and plunged it in snatching out his heart. The demon collapsed with Simi standing atop him holding his heart up high, blood dripping down her arm. She brought it to her lips and sucked it dry tossing it aside when she was done. Smacking her lips she said, "mmmm Simi was thirsty."

She sat down on the demon looking out at all the fighting going on. "Simi is going to have lots of fun with her new friends," she said smiling.

MorteDor watched in amazement as a demon took down its fellow race. It seemed blood thirst, and tore the demon's flesh like it was made of simple human fabric. Strange as it seemed, but MorteDor knew that this chaotic soul would be the one to follow.

"mmm Simi was thirsty!" he heard it say. He went to the demon aided it as the surrounding demons started to surround her.

"Time to fight!" MorteDor whispered to Simi. She looked pretty excited, and MorteDor gave a rare smile. He raised his sword of light, and let his twisted soul of a Fallen Angel be filled with the night. The battle seemed to be won, if they could just hold on little longer.

Erragon awoke, dizzy, disoriented. Where am I? He thought, rubbing the back of his head. Then he remembered. He fleeing the horde of Demons that were chasing him. Why were they chasing him? The humans from that village. They betrayed him. After all of the long decades he watched over them, watched them pray in the sanctuary, watched them toil while they worked and when they played.

Slowly he stood and tried to move, but was constricted and bound by heavy chains. Erragon collapsed where he stood. There was commotion all around him, but he was still shaken and couldn't grasp what was going on. If only he had his sword or shield, he could be free of his chains. He was weak. The longer he was disguised as a human, the weaker he felt. He finally found the strength to shout.

Someone! Anyone! Help me out of my chains! Now all he could do was hope and pray that someone heard him.