Hammers in the Shadows

Part Two: Hammers in the Night - Chapter Nineteen

"The Masters," She growled, "Demand it," swinging her sword again, rather clumsily, "For the glory of the Union." She lunged at me and I stepped to one side before bringing the pommel of my weapon down by one of her ears causing her to crumple to the ground in a heap.

"Why can't they understand?" I growled, fatigue pulling at my limbs, "That all we desire is to live here in peace." I uttered as I bulled into the second to last Were, a relative light-weight who looked to be no more than fifteen to twenty winters old. I disarmed him quickly and I could see the fear in his eyes, the fear of a young cat and a young man who was afraid to die when his life had only really just begun. By that point Anna had finished off her last opponent and we both took a moment to survey the floor around us.

Sadly, it appeared that my last two opponents were the only ones still breathing, though I could tell that the leopard would needs some medical care if he was to survive.

Still breathing hard, I switched my sword to my off hand and held out my hand to the young, weaponless cat standing in front of me. "I want the killing to end youngster, I am tired of seeing my Pride Mates getting hurt by this senseless fighting."

He looked around at the carnage on the floor and I could see that he was seeing the true horror of what he'd participated in. The fact that so many of the bodies on the floor were his comrades deeply affected him. "When does it all stop?" He asked in a shaking voice.

Anna gently laid a hand on his trembling arm. "When we decide that it needs to stop, when we realize that this isn't the way to do things young one." She answered him softly, "Listen to your cat, he may have some ideas as to the validity of what those who commanded this attack said."

"They always taught us that we should command the beast in our hearts, not let it command us." He said while looking at me.

I nodded sadly, "I know that's what they believe, but they couldn't be further from the truth. If we stop listening to our cat then we stop hearing what our soul is telling us... Close your eyes and listen to him, see what he says, he probably is desperate for you to listen." I said softly while resting a gently hand on his shoulder.

Anna laid a hand on his other shoulder, "We don't want to kill people here, it's the last thing that we want to do." She said, her tone full of the same pain that I was feeling at seeing so many wasted lives laying on the floor at the base of the stairs. He looked around again, as if looking for the first time and then looked up at me, "How can I ever atone for all of the things I've done in my life against those who only wish is to be left to live their lives how they please?"

"That is up to you," I said looking into his eyes and seeing the amber of his cat looking back at me, and the thing was the young cat, who was obviously on his first life, was terrified of being thrown in a rogue's grave.

"Relax cub, we aren't going to do something so terrible to you." I said comfortingly while gently doing my best of soothe his spirit. "You can still redeem yourself in our eyes." I finally said while still projecting calmness and serenity at the cat in the young man's eyes.

"What can I do?" He asked me his head still looking down at his feet.

"Well for one I think it would be only right for you to help us clean this mess up before it really begins to stink, though first we're going to get your female comrade down to medical where she can get some treatment for that bump on the back of her head." It didn't really look that healthy, and she was bleeding from the left ear which indicated at least some level of internal damage. "I think I hit her a bit too hard." I admitted before looking at the slightly bloody pommel of my long-sword.

Anna shook her head, "Mark, some people forget that you can use all parts of a sword as a weapon if you really put your mind to it." I nodded slightly

"I think we may need mom to do some healing on this one's head, I just hope her brains don't get too damaged, she's an attractive looking cat." I admitted before two members of the medical staff came into the room from one of the two elevators that lead down in the lower sections of the Pride House. The two medics began going though the piled bodies and from the expressions on their faces I could tell that for the most part they could do nothing for any of the Weres who were laying on the floor. I waved them over and pointed to the leopard who was laying at my feet breathing shallowly.

"Good grief what on earth did you hit her with sir?" One of them asked as they lifted her onto the stretcher.

"The pommel of my sword." I replied, I guess I hit her a bit too hard.

"Well looks like you caused a depressed skull fracture here, her body is trying to heal it, but we'd imagine that her intercranial pressure isn't good." The senior medic stated before lifting the stretcher with his partner before they headed for the elevator.

Once the medics had left we began the process of collecting the various bodies, most of the people who worked on cleaning up the mess were Juniors, but Anna and I also were there to lend a hand, and to make sure that some of the limbs ended up with their owners. Once the worst of the mess was cleaned up, and the weapons were policed up and placed down in security Anna and I, tiredly made our way back up to our apartment where we could resume our interrupted sleep.

(I am  back...! I am working on this again, though there isn't really all that much left to tell in this story, I hope you all enjoy it. For those who've been nagging me for the better part of the last year I apologize for my lack of production. Hope you're ready to finish reading this story... should have the rest up in the next week or so.)