So here we are at the third chapter! Never thought I'd make it this far actually. Well, I guess we learn a new thing everyday. I'm thinking about making this public, any thoughts? ==================== III. A Chance ==================== What’s that sound? I hear foot steps scrunching in the snow, and as if something was being dragged. I open my eyes with an effort. I blink a few times to adjust to the lighting. Lighting? When I can focus my vision, I’m not in a dark cave like I was last night. “I’m looking at the sky.” The snow gently fell down, and everything seemed completely right in that moment. Except that I wasn’t in a cave. I crane my head to look down and see a tall figure with two arms on a rifle and the other two dragging me by my feet. His armour was white and heavy, his cloak was thick and brown. This was a Fallen. Should I act dead? Should I struggle? A million thoughts raced through my mind, the most prominent was the one I heard last night. You will die here. I reached down for my pistol, and grabbed nothing but air. The Fallen wore it around his own leg, mocking me with that gesture. “I can’t even kill myself.” I muttered to myself. It must have heard me this time, because it stopped. The blood drained from my face, and my heart raced. It dropped my leg and kneeled down next to me. His helmet – Its helmet – had two pipes running from the right side of it. It looked like a robotic spider. I closed my eyes; trying to flush out the image of the Fallen. It must have taken amusement to that because I thought I heard a twisted laughter come from its mouth. No, not laughter, but a chuckle. A smirk of victory, as if killing me had been like eliminating the entire race of humans. I breath a sigh of defeat and look back at it. He pointed to me, then to the moon. He knew I was from there, one of the very few left that I knew of. He knew from the colour of my hair, the colour of my eyes. But even I was an anomaly within my kind. My hair was a mix of white with streaks of black in it. It was a dormant gene, hidden within my family since our ancestors’ time on Old Earth. I was the only one with impure hair. My eyes though, like all other Lunas, glow in the night. I stop looking and submit to my fate. I place my head back down to the floor and thought about everyone I've let down. My friends, my family, my memories; the people who saved me, the people who died to protect me, the people I was going to protect. I've let all of them down, and I was sure there was more but my mind became numb. No reassuring thoughts are in my mind this time, none to tell me everything will be fine. The voices are quiet. I wait for a small while. Why isn't this Fallen dragging me yet? I get up on my elbows to look at the creature; it looked...afraid? That was impossible, these are ruthless and cruel aliens, they'd lovingly die in order to kill one of us. Still, it looked paranoid. The alien readied his rifle and brought his two "arms" to bear. It carefully studied the surroundings, making sure not to miss a spot. I hear a predatory sound come from its mouth; a low snarl. It darts its head back and glares daggers at me. Its going to kill me. It threw back the heavy cloak it wore and locked back its two auxiliary arms. Those two arms were scarier than the entire being - they were bladed and sharpened. Frozen in fear, I could do nothing but stare as it slowly walked towards me. The air was heavy, its killing intent was suffocating. This will be my grave. It laughed one more time, as if to emphasize its obvious superiority. What could I do? I was small, frail, and afraid. The laugh echoed into my ears and chilled my bones. I begin to think, think of anything that would ease the pain which was to come. "No. I won't die this easy." I said through clenched teeth and tried to break off a piece of the greaves. Before I could, it was upon me. It was a horrifying sight as it raised its right arm and aimed to pierce my chest. I clenched my left hand into a fist to try and dig my nails into the cuts I'd gotten from the climb yesterday. The pain was just enough to overcome the fear. I rolled to the right and got up on one knee. With its arm still in the empty floor, it craned its head to the side and looked at me. It growled and raised its rifle at me, aiming for the kill. The loud crack of a gun sounded, and a yell of pain followed. The Fallen began bleeding a dark purple liquid from its leg. A low whistle could be heard, a whistle from the air. The brown and silver object from the sky crashed onto it with such impact the snow around them flew back. I shielded my eyes from the incoming debris. As the Fallen squirmed beneath the object, steady heat waves began rising around it. Heat waves? A raging inferno erupted from the crater. The heat was intense and furious, but I couldn't take my eyes off the spectacle. This furious and intense fire. The loud cracks and roar of the fire. How the fire danced around its foe and swirled and disappeared into the air. And how quickly and mercilessly it burned and singed flesh and forest, I remember it all too well. A dark figure began to rise from the center of the crimson blaze. The tall figure stood silhouetted against the dancing flames. A wind blew the flames away from the front of me, and the tall figure was surrounded by a small pile of ashes. The figure held his rifle in his right hand and was looking into the distance. The brown robe he wore. The silver armour he had. The figure turned slowly and faced me with the metallic gaze all the helmets had. He began to speak in a low voice, "From ashes to ashes..." The charred remains of the Fallen began to float away with the wind as he spoke. "From dust to dust..." He stepped forward and broke the burnt bone of the Fallen. "I am Guardian Dax." I knew what he was. He took another step forward. I knew the tales of them. Another step. This was no regular Guardian, "of the New Monarchy." "A Warlock." ==================== Done with the third chapter! I had trouble introducing this character, namely because he isn't mine! Guardian Dax is from the great mind of New Monarchy member: Z3R0M1ND01! He will be a major character, so this won't solely be about my character anymore. This will now become an epic tale of beginnings for both the young and growing Zwei, and the Warlock Dax! Thanks for reading, any suggestions for what happens next, criticisms, questions, and requests are greatly appreciated and will be replied to! Also, once again, thinking of making these public after a little while, suggestions?