Author’s Note: Sorry I haven’t updated this in a while. Hope you like it!

-Ranger

The Tribe of Shadows

Ch 9: Betrayal

As I turned, I saw someone almost 200 feet behind me, in camouflage, lying in sniper position with a rifle aiming right at my skull. Whoever it was saw me turn and dashed away. I ran toward where they had been, looking for some sort of clue. All I found was a note, saying

Find my apprentice. Kill him, and report back to me at Fort Deepwood. If you are seen, tell me immediately. Keep a walkie on hand. If Dilath sees this note, all is lost.

-Blackmoon

I snarled, my eyes flashing to glowing green with slitted pupils. “You will pay for this treachery, Blackmoon. I will find you, and SKIN YOU ALIVE!” I screamed, my voice echoing across the valley. I stood up, my black TEK armor, which I now used when attacking hostile forts, flaring with energy. I launched myself into the air as I let out a piercing whistle. I landed perfectly on the saddle of my Argentavis, Cloud, and flew off towards the Redwoods, where Fort Deepwood was located.

After close to two hours, I reached the fort. Dropping down silently, I drew the dagger Blackmoon gave me. He would be slain by his own gift. Now inside the walls, scanned the area for enemies. Seeing none, I creeped towards what looked like the keep. Suddenly. Blackmoon’s voice boomed across the courtyard. “Ah, Dilath. You REALLY thought you could attack my fort alone? I would never have expected such… Idiocy from my own apprentice. Now drop the knife, and let us talk. Unless you want a bullet through the skull. Stand up, boys.” Immediately, almost fifty men, each with TEK rifles, stood up from the bushes. By the Overseer! How did I miss them? But as I thought this, I felt a tearing pain across my body, like a sword was slashing it. I felt my vertebrae grow out into spines on my back. My head lengthened, becoming raptor like. Dark gray scales grew over my skin. My eyes glowed green, slitted pupils staring daggers at Blackmoon. A long whiplike tail grew from my back, my teeth lengthened, and my fingers grew claws. I was no longer human. I was like Aemosa. Like my father. This was, IS my birthright. I let out a roar, summoning a hundred or more Deinonychus. “You will pay, Blackmoon. Destroy them, my legion,” I said, my voice like thunder. Immediately, all hell broke loose. I sprinted towards Blackmoon, who was trying to mount an Argentavis, warped to human form and leaped onto his back, my dagger slashing through his TEK armor. “Die,” I whispered. The blade plunged through his spine. I jumped off, allowing the Argentavis to fly off, his slowly dying body still on it’s saddle. General Aemosa stepped out from the shadows. “Well done, brother! You won against an enemy much more powerful than yourself, slaying your own former master with his own gift to you. Poetic, really,” he said. “But now brother, you must recruit people into your Tribe of Shadows. You will take over Pyrrhia. And then, you shall slay the Overseer,” he continued. I nodded, pulling out my map. “Can you mark any nearby settlements?” I asked. He did so. There was a village very close nearby. And apparently, my old township was being rebuilt. One day, I shall return there.

-Ranger