User blog:SaynaSLuke/A War from Inside

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Author's Notes

This is a collab between Sayna and Illusion. It will be about what happened to one of the most mysterious heroes of The Warrior's Beginning and Four Warriors Cometh, Groddil! Ever wondered what really happened to him when he disappeared near the end of TWB? And why he came back?

Well now .. we will tell you.

And you just might meet some brand new friends .. and enemies .. along the way!

I guess I'll be writing the Prologue, Illusion the first chapter, me the next .. and so on. You get the idea ;P

Enjoy, and please comment! - Sayna _{She has a warrior's spirit}

Prologue (Sayna)

They didn't see. They didn't understand what he was doing, and they didn't need to. It didn't concern them.

And yet it did.

He had watched them so long .. saw them grow, saw their worries, felt their pain. They may have been his charges, but they honestly felt like his children. And he didn't want to see them get hurt.

For more reasons then just his mission.

His name was Groddil .. and this is his story. Although it's not just his .. no, there were other beasts involved, as there always are.

For when you embark into the mostly invisible world he lived in .. you discover many things you never realized existed. But that doesn't make them any less real. Although you might think the inhabitants of this world don't have too much effect on the lives of the normal beast, they do.

That's why Groddil was there, fighting for his life instead of watching Martin and Sally like he should have been.

He was doing it for them .. them and Lord Ignasa. Perhaps he could have done things differently .. but nobeast can go back in time.

They can only face the future.

After all .. he couldn't be surprised. He knew they were after him .. he was honestly surprised they didn't catch up with him sooner. But they had caught him now, an important fighter and spy for the side opposite theirs.

How long could he really expect to live?

But even now, as they dragged him along .. to wherever they were taking him .. he had hope.

Miracles could still happen, and if one did not, He was not afraid of death.

Whatever was to happen, would happen.

But he did worry about his charges .. who would watch them now?

Chapter 1 (Illusion)

Lilly wasn't sure what was going on. In fact - she had no clue.

The young rabbit wasn't in any way a miracle, but she desperately needed one.

One moment, her life had been normal, and then the next, her reality had been pulled out from under her and she had sunk into a silent world of painful darkness.

Now the setting had changed dramatically from warmth and sunshine. Really, it had not been that sudden. She'd been here a while, but had lost track of time.

Her world had gone dimmer, her fur felt clammy, covered with grime.

She was a young rabbit, frightened but also enraged. Unlike some of her kind, she had an unyielding determination that gave her bravery. Well actually, she wasn't quite sure. Being young, a small rabbit still, she no idea what was normal and what was not.

Her paws ached, the pink pads raw and tender as if worn away, maybe she had been dragged ... All the same, it didn't change the state she was in, and that was enough pondering around. And really, she was young, very young.

Lilly was afraid, her eyes glittered with fear in the darkness of the prison. Moisture gathered in her deep brown gaze, threatening to spill. She missed her family, especially her sister, her twin, her only friend in the world. Still, putting on a brave face, she wiped away reluctant tears. It was something she didn't fully understand, something a much older creature would have thought of. She wouldn't give her captors the satisfaction of seeing her weep.

Normally the little maid would be kind, sweet, but that didn't mean she wasn't fierce. Just like a lot of creatures out there, she had a side of fierceness when she needed it. That didn't change her feelings about her situation though. She didn't understand a lot of things.

Why would someone take her prisoner anyway? She didn't exactly do anything wrong, or anything back to whoever her captors were. Cautiously, she raised her muzzle, only speaking in a quiet voice, trying her best not to let her words quaver.

"Hello?"

Almost immediately after her words, the situation got worse. She thought she heard the faint rustle of sound, but it was so quiet ... in fact she wasn't even sure if she had heard it at all. Her heart sped up, brown eyes widening. Who was there ...?

Then, a cloaked figure stepped inside the prison, shrouded in a thin cloak that swept across the floor, guided by a swift paw. The hood only added an air of mystery. The temperature seemed to drop suddenly, Lilly felt a lot more worried now. After that, the figure raises his lantern and let his hood fall back. The young rabbit was lost for words at the creature's appearance.

He was a stoat, but larger then the average vermin, and certainly more dangerous looking. His shape was sinewy, and what fur was visible was well cared for. Even his cold eyes had a glint of sharp cunning. Though she was young, she knew this beast meant trouble. As for a weapon, what he carried she did not recognize. It appeared to be a type of club, hewn from stone. Yet it had the slight shape of a sword, only a little shorter.

The creature himself had a viscous face, patterned with a dark chocolate gradient mask, almost like a ferret, with rich caramel and cream for his other colors. Lilly didn't quite have time to note his eye color before he spoke. His voice was smooth, persuasive yet grating, warning.

"Ahha .. only a young rabbit I presume. You are one of our - let's say newer prisoners I guess? Most don't stay long .. No problem anyhow. I'll warn you not to worry about your dear family .. I took care of them personally. They're in good hands, so don't fear." His voice was laced with poisoned sarcasm.

Lilly could feel her face growing warm, eyes dampening from a gathering hot moisture. She could see her sister's dark face in her mind's eye, shining sadly, an echo of memories. Her mother, her father .. and her grandfather. How she and her siblings had done everything together .. How could that all be gone? The stoat could tell he'd hit a nerve, and smiled a little.

"You poor dear thing, I didn't hurt your feelings did I?" He asked, making her only more mentally agonized. It was obvious he was a bully who liked to make other's lives miserable. Lilly, not exactly grasping the danger of the situation, spoke out in a trembling voice.

"What did you do to them? I .." She stopped herself, shaking a little.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing m'dear. You did put the words into my mouth."

You foul creature! She thought, expression laced with venom. She didn't know what to say, where to go, what to do. She was lost, and the dark presence all around her reeked of desolate loneliness. There was someone else there. It was sinister, and cast a hopeless feeling into her heart. Someone please help me .. anyone.

Lilly didn't say anything more, by the time she looked up, the stoat was gone, but the evil presence was not. The tri-toned rabbit tried to recall the nursery stories and rhymes her grandfather had told her and her sister, of the great Lords who ruled the land beyond physics. Her sister had known so much more, even being her twin, and a bit unruly for obedience, she had still always been so ... Connected. Okay, she got easily startled, more then Lilly, and had a tendency to be a bit sharp tongued, but had always been sensitive to the mental world. The one Lilly could not yet understand.

She knew of hope, justice, and truth. Honesty was always on her mind, integrity; all the skills of a goodbeast, but she could not understand the darkness. Lilly felt a strong heartache, if only her sister could be in her place. I bet you'd know what to do .. I wish you were by my side sis. What happened? But I didn't listen when I had the chance .. why?

The darkness made her feel lonely, solemn, and the forlorn silence restricted her from speaking out loud. She thought she heard a small sound, off in the distance, but the young maid wasn't sure. What was there left to do? She needed help, and could only hope this was help, not for the purpose to hurt.

Chapter 2 (Sayna)

Lilly and Groddil in prison, by Illusion :3

Groddil didn't really fight as his two captors pulled him along; sometimes roughly .. sometimes not even bothering since they knew the would get no reaction. He didn't have to wonder who the one was .. there was no other fox like him, with his black fur, weapons, and apparel, as well as his glowing orange eyes.

It was Ferran. Ferran who had tried to kill his charge .. Ferran whom he had driven away. Ferran .. his brother.

As wicked as the fox was now, Groddil knew he'd not always been like this. It saddened him to think of Ferran's downfall .. it would not have had have happened.

But I was blind then .. so blind! I myself was dabbling in Malimore's wickedness .. so I could not see to help him. And now .. now it's too late.

Ferran smacked him hard on the muzzle, sneering, "Ha, you're right brother. It is too late .. too late for you. I'm sure Malimore will have a lovely way of conveniently getting rid of you .. oh servant of the one whose name shall not be spoken."

Groddil neither spoke nor winced, just stared back with level yellow eyes. Ferran snarled in anger, but his hooded companion spoke in it's cracked monotone. "Lord Malimore will want his prize undamaged Ferran."

The black fox avoided looking at where the creature's eyes would have been .. even if she was wearing a hood. "Fine. Where shall we put him for the time being?"

The hooded beast pointed to a shadowy, rather large grotto with a rusty metal grate over it's mouth. "I'm sure our old acquaintance wouldn't mind us throwing him in there .. at least not for the time being."

Groddil didn't struggle as Ferran dragged him cruelly towards the prison, shoving him in with vicious strength. Paws still bound, Groddil stumbled down the slight incline and fell to the muddy, swampy floor of his new prison. The metal grate ground shut with a slam, and the silver fox slowly sat up.

Only he wasn't really silver anymore .. he was more of a muddy, bleeding mess. The ropes around his paws were terribly painful, especially the one cutting into his damaged right wrist. Groddil clenched his teeth in an effort to keep from screaming, but a slight whimper escaped him anyhow.

He couldn't undo his bonds, for every movement pained his wrist, which Ungatt Trunn had broken long ago. It had never healed properly, and it never would, so naturally it was very sensitive.

A slight movement in one corner caught his eye, and he braced himself. But the creature that crawled into the light was not a vermin as he had thought, but a very young tri-colored rabbit maiden. She stared at him with nervous brown eyes, as if unsure of his purposes.

Groddil smiled softly, although he imagined it came out as more of a pained grimace. "Hello lass .. I'm not going to hurt you."

Compassion flitted across her face, and Groddil could feel her sorrow .. sorrow for him. He realized he must look dreadful, so he winced, "It's ok lass, I'll live. Can you untie me?"

The rabbit stared at him in confusion for a moment, with a little suspicion. But then she seemed to realize something, and crept over to him. Groddil bit his lip as her little paws worked on the knot, unintentionally jostling his bad wrist. It took a few minutes, and those minutes felt like hours. But suddenly the ropes fell away, and Groddil caressed his mangled paw tightly as he turned to face his rescuer.

She blinked up at him, finally asking, "W .. who are you? Why did they throw you down here .. when you're a fox?"

Groddil smiled ever so slightly. The rabbit's voice trembled a little, but she was brave despite her fear. "I'm not one of them .. I'm on the opposite side lass. They captured me."

The rabbit sat down on a halfway dry rock in front of him. "Oh. What's your name then?"

Groddil settled himself a little better, ignoring the mud he was sitting in. "I am Groddil."

The rabbit said his strange name once, as if memorizing how to pronounce it. "Groddil. My name is Lilly."

She reminded him of someone .. Sally. Maybe not as sharp tongued, fierce, and pessimistic, but she reminded him of her all the same. For they both shared something.

A warrior's spirit.

Lilly cocked her head slightly, asking haltingly, "If .. you're really one .. of you know .. the good side .. why are you here?"

Groddil massaged his right wrist, sighing, "I am a prophet Lilly .. of Lord Ignasa. They are servants of Malimore, the direct enemy of Ignasa. My kind do many things in the world around you, things you do not see, or at least do not understand. But one of these things is protect Lord Ignasa's chosen ones, against Malimore's Shadow Fighters. So I did, and in my duties, I was captured."

Lilly's gaze was confused, and Groddil closed his eyes. "Never mind lass .. never mind. It is too much for such a young beast as you."

The fox looked his youthful companion over, asking, "Lass, why are you here? You are too young to be a prophetess, and you couldn't be one of their slaves .. once again, you are too young. Do you have a family nearby? How did they capture you?"

Groddil felt bad instantly, as tears sprang into Lilly's eyes. He held up a paw, "It's ok lass, I shouldn't have asked. You don't have to tell me .."

But Lilly didn't really seem to hear him. "I .. I really don't know .. I can't .. remember what happened! But that .. that .. stoat .. he told me .."

Groddil looked up quickly. "Stoat? What did he look like?"

Lilly seemed to find a way to control herself. "H .. he looked like a ferret really .. but he was too small to be one .."

Groddil felt his gaze darken as he said on word, a name. "Adkar."

Lilly sniffed. "Who?"

Groddil could feel a cold trickle of fear sliding down his back, and he fought to show nothing for this young maid's benefit. "Adkar. I .. I know of him."

Lilly blinked, asking, "You .. know of him? But how?"

Groddil sighed, stating, "As I said before, it is to hard for a creature your age to comprehend. But I will say this. The world of Ignasa's prophets and Malimore's Shadow Fighters is intertwined .. we know much about the other side. Although not everything, which is why .."

He paused, before adding, "Which is why I will tell them nothing .. no matter what it costs me."

Lilly seemed to ponder this for a few seconds, before speaking up. "Groddil .. sir .. do you know a way out of here?"

Groddil thought on what he knew of the Shadow Fighters and their encampments, and he understood escape was near impossible. But he felt sorry for this young maid with so much potential, captured by the cruel, hardened beasts. They only kept a prisoner like Lilly alive for one real reason, and Groddil could feel this was the case with his newfound friend.

Even though she did not realize it, Lilly had a strong connection with the spirit world. It was underdeveloped and she was young .. but she had great understanding for her age. She was confused, naturally so; being imprisoned in a pit of such evil was extremely disorienting.

Groddil knew, without a doubt, Lilly's captors wished to make her into a seer .. and seer for Malimore.

The silver fox looked up, meeting Lilly's expectant brown gaze. His voice was a sigh. "I don't know lass .. I just don't know.

Chapter 3 (Illusion)

Somehow, Lilly felt vaguely disappointed; not in him, just in hope. Groddil, such an unexpected ally and friend, as well as being the only light in this place, had a grim reaction. That worried her. Was there not any chance? There must be, there had to be, and with his help she would do her best to find it.

Lilly never had felt extremely intelligent, not enough to escape perhaps the most difficult area ever, but as far as rabbits went... Well it was all she had.

Groddil seemed uncertain, rueful, and not telling her the full truth. In most cases, Lilly wouldn't want the full truth; for one thing, she liked finding out what was real for herself— this was not one of those times. Now, she wasn't sure if she was too afraid to figure that out, so she stayed silent.

It didn't take her too long to realize she was sitting deathly still, not speaking or moving and that was a little strange. Yet she was so confused... And this thick smog-cloud, which was more of some evil presence, blocked her senses and confused her terribly . Groddil hadn't said anything either yet, maybe she should ask...

The chance was ripped away when she saw a familiar shadow cast across the dark bone ridden ground.

Adkar

He was back. Perhaps to torment them? She wasn't sure.

As he walked quietly in, the stoat stood in foreboding silence. There was a hidden smugness on his face she wished to destroy, but of course she was bound by shackles. Without a care at her presence he turned to the silver fox, speaking in a cool tone.

"So, you are prophet, yes?" He asked, the question simple, no anger burned in his gaze. Groddil seemingly stayed emotionless, inside and out. It was clear he wasn't planning to speak anytime soon. Adkar as he was called, didn't seem to care, he already knew the question's answer.

Another volley of questions rang out, each more fevered and powerful than the last.

"Are you or are you not the protector of the Marked Ones?," "Do you know of their where-abouts?" And then the most surprising, "Why where you, you a fox chosen as a prophet of the Lord of Light?"

The silver fox didn't seem shocked, but not totally expectant of this either. It was almost as though Adkar was trying to play on his emotions, to get him to feel guilty or unworthy of some sort. It made Lilly wonder if there was more there than what she saw. Was it actually a battle of the mind? Was the conniving stoat really attacking with more than words, prying and searching for one little weakness?

It made her feel unnerved, uneasy, she felt off balance and strange. This other world of mental instead of physics was so different to her.

Adkar seemed to be quickly loosing temper, his eyes narrowed and eyebrows furrowed in frustration. It wasn't his words that gave away what he was feeling, only his eyes. Vibes of anger radiated off of his sharply, gathering power.

Groddil sat, seemingly still calm, but even his expression had turned troubled. She didn't blame him, certainly not, and she definitely didn't understand. Quaking slightly with rage, the stoat sustained his anger. He breathed out, vibes of radiated anger still within his aura of emotion. Lilly knew he was far from calm, and seemed to be thinking hard all the same. Then, as if talking to two Dibbun, he folded his hands and spoke in a sickeningly sweet voice.

"Well then, if you won't talk I suppose life will continue. I'm sure Lord Malimore has something very special planned for you anyway. As for the rabbit, that's another's problem."

Lilly could remember what Groddil had warned about saying nothing, with a firm unreadable expression, she knew he would surely stick to his word, she just wished she could do the same. The rabbit maiden tried not to shiver at Adkar's dark words, foretelling of a doom that was either real or a ruse. Even the silver fox seemed to know much more about her would be fate than her.

Though she dared not say anything, she was feeling almost sick. Not physically, but cramped as well. Here she was, sitting in this disgusting pit where emotions spoke louder than words. The heavy cloud of evil set a clammy gloom, she needed no chains nor manacles to feel trapped. That was for certain.

And yet she wondered, how did this Groddil stay so... Calm? It was as though he had some unseen force guiding him, one she knew of a little, but didn't understand. She didn't feel jealously, only curiosity, and wonder. Truly, sitting in this darkness she didn't care if he was a fox, he was a goodbeast and that was enough for him to be a friend. After all, as far as she knew she didn't have anyone left.

Adkar didn't say anything more, only threw the silver fox one last death glare before stalking off. It was fairly obvious he was not really done questioning, yet he seemed to realize Groddil wasn't speaking unless there was a real reason to. And that wicked grin on the stoat's face caused her to realize he may already have a plan. If he did, it certainly wasn't going to be for the benefit of her or Groddil.

No farther than she had been only moments ago, Lilly sat in silence, feeling a little less hopeful. The dark was disorienting, scrambling her senses, when would it end? She realized by now they were not in any normal place, but it was all to confusing. All of her young life she had been on the outskirts of the mental word, and now she was at loss her.

As for Groddil, she new he was brave, about that there was no doubt, but how long could he last against this pressure, how long would it be before one of them snapped from the strength of the shadows. Faces of the memories she was pained to think about constantly haunted her, what had happened, why hadn't she been more observant, listened better? Such a young maid, and it was a difficult situation for any beast to happen.

Beneath it all she could feel a small voice crying out, something that told her to fight back, not to bend to the darkness. Was that good? Or was it another trick? She wasn't sure, and she couldn't exactly talk with the silver fox. What was he thinking anyway? Her curiosity was hard to satisfy, she wanted to know more about her new friend, how had be, a fox of all creatures, have so much more faith than her. It truly was amazing, and as she realized, something she shouldn't really be worrying about.

How long would it be before something change, or was she to wait in a world that required patience she didn't have? Once again, she felt startled to think Groddil knew more about it than she did. Why couldn't he tell her what the plans of these creature's were. Could it be that someone else was ruling her world, even her own thoughts...

Chapter 4 (Sayna)

Groddil watched Adkar walk off, yellow eyes smoldering with anger. He had sensed exactly what the stoat was thinking, and knew he was in deeper trouble then he had thought.

Would they actually bring him before Malimore? The silver fox suppressed a shudder. No .. anything but that. He would far rather they simply kill him then and there, then ever bring him directly into the presence of the Dark Wolf .. his old master.

He had served him once, long ago. But when Lord Ignasa had found him and forgiven him, he had left the evil he had once lived in.

His plea was silent, an echoing thought of desperation in his heart.

Oh Milord Ignasa .. please. Do not let me see Malimore again .. I .. it is too much. If this really is your plan .. give me your strength, I beg you.

Even more then that, he had seen the glance Adkar had cast at Lilly, and had felt the stoat's thoughts. He and his cronies planned to turn her into a Shadow Fighter. Perhaps Groddil had not met the little rabbit until today, but he felt great pity for her, and her terrible fate.

It didn't matter which way she turned. If she refused their lies and training too long, they would kill her, and in the cruelest way their twisted minds could think up.

However, if she fell to their poisoning, mind twisting teachings, her fate would be all the worse.

And if she could resist them, it would still effect her. They would twist the way she saw herself, and the way she saw the world. They would make it so she had no way of knowing what was right or wrong.

They would destroy her.

Beyond the fact Groddil was a compassionate beast, and would not desire to see such a young creature manipulated in the ways Lilly was destined to be, he could sense something more about her.

Something different.

Something special.

But what was it? Even he did not know everything. But he was determined of one thing.

Adkar and his crew would not twist Lilly into something evil. He would not let them.

One of Groddil's greatest fallings was in that he often kept his worries to himself, and didn't express them to others, especially children. That is why he had not told his charges about their past .. not even the one who was like a daughter to him, Sally. And her past was so complicated .. even he did not know how to break it to her.

This was also the reason he had hidden the complete truth from Lilly. He hated to tell children of the cruelty and dangers of the world, but he realized Lilly would soon be faced with it. And it would be far worse if she did not know, or know how to act.

The silver fox cast a glance at her, sitting over in one corner with her arms wrapped about her knees and her eyes fixated on him. He closed his eyes momentarily, mentally pleading Lord Ignasa show him a way to explain this situation properly.

Groddil took a deep breath, asking, "Lass .. come here please. You asked me to tell you if there was a way out of here. Look .. I didn't like to tell you the hard facts .. but maybe it's best you should know."

The little rabbit scooted over to him, her eyes worried, but very serious. The silver fox looked down. "Alright lass .. now the chances of getting out .. they're almost nil. There might be a way, perhaps, if I knew the lay of the land properly. But as I do not, we're going to have to play this .. well, as it were, very cautiously. Not that we wouldn't have to have the outmost caution anyway, but we have no real plan. You see?"

Lilly nodded understandingly, waiting for him to continue. Groddil winced, stating, "Not to put a bleak outlook on things, but I read Adkar's thoughts when he questioned me. They plan on turning you into one of their seers."

Lilly recoiled. "No! No, I don't want to be like them! I don't want to be a seer!"

Groddil held up a paw. "I know lass, I know. And I don't want you to either. But they are going to try and train you .. this is certain."

Lilly was frightened, but she tried to keep it together. "But .. what do I do?"

Groddil looked down. "There's only one thing you can do. Trust Lord Ignasa."

The little rabbit looked up at him, asking, "Who? I that .. the great Lord of the world ..that .. I've heard stories about?"

Groddil sat down, rubbing his right wrist due to a lance of pain that had began to run through it again. "Yes lass, he is. My great king; and the one I will serve forever. He is the only one who can save us .. for we cannot save ourselves. So we must trust in him. If you will cry out to him Lilly .. he is always there. The Shadow Fighters will use manipulation and fear against you; you must resist it. And that is too great a thing to ask of you .. it is of any. All you can do is ask Lord Ignasa for his protection .. it is all I can do."

To Groddil's great surprise, Lilly sat down beside him, just like Sally once did. She took a shaking breath, asking, "When will they come for me .. or will they even? It seems like it's been so long .. I don't even know if I can remember what sunlight looks like."

Groddil sighed. He hadn't talked this much in a good long while, but he was doing it now. "They will come for you .. I saw the calculating glance Adkar cast in your direction. When .. well .. I'm not sure. But it won't be long."

He looked about as a sudden thought came to him. "And when they are here .. try to act as though you fear me. If they realize we are .. friends .. they will separate us."

Lilly's eyes widened with worry; and Groddil assumed she did not want to be alone again.

Groddil laid an awkward paw on her shoulder, stating, "And I think it's time I treated you as a fellow warrior. You may be young .. but right now, you're going to have to be as brave as a badger .. braver even."

He opened his mouth to say more, but shut again as he felt a blast of icy darkness. The silver fox nodded to her. "Quick, away from me! One of them is coming!"

Lilly didn't ask questions, just scuttled off into a corner of the grotto opposite Groddil. And just in time too.

There was a near demonic grating as the rusted metal and wood door swung inward, and two beasts walked into the cavern.

Adkar .. and another.

Fragorl.

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TBC~