We traveled through the tundra, all active and excited for the battle. They eventually settled down and we continued on to our quiet trip. After about thirty minutes we stopped by a station. We were going to pick up some supplies and refuel the vehicles. It must have taken awhile picking up all these agents.

We dropped down from the caravan and walked around in the snow. We found some places to sit down, and other just stood there waiting. The hunter-pirate went over to the station and took a nap. Glasses decided that he needed to practice, and went over chopping adult trees down in one slash. The cloak got out and started creating magic circles again, probably some kind of meditation.

Everyone found what they were going to do, and I was really bored. I put my sword in my seat and took my helmet with me outside. I found the captain over at the station having a smoke by the entrance, and he was leaning on the building.

I walked over to him and asked him how long it would take until we're back on the road.

"I don't know, kid. It should maybe take about ten to twenty minutes, if you're that bored, why don't you be the one to lead a patrol group out in the vicinity. Who knows, maybe you'll find something interesting to do."

He blew out some smoke.

Wait, is he serious? He gave a patrol squad just now. Wow, this is definitely something, I never really got to lead much before, and now I have the perfect opportunity to look for something to test my new stuff on.

"Go and call agents 1478 and 1638. They're probably better than just taking a few members of the tactical team. They're both Rank B, so you should have no problem at all."

The captain said to me one more time before he focused on enjoying his outdoor smoke. I turned on my visor and scanned the area for number 1478 and 1638. After about a few seconds, my visor located them sitting on a boulder by the edge of the forest.

One of them was lying down on the rock, and was wearing big bulky armour, way bigger than mine, and he was holding a great axe or something. The other one was a lot smaller, and was polishing their weapon. It was a sniper rifle of sorts, not the standard issue. It was a lot more powerful than an ordinary rifle.

They seem pretty decent teammates. I walked over to them and called their attention.

"Hey you two, the captain assigned me to be your party leader for this patrol team. I thought that we should start as soon as we can." I tried to sound as official as I could.

The one lying down sat up and rubbed his eyes, and he yawned. He blinked a few time and looked at me.

"You must be Pyron. Rank A right?"

"Yeah, that's me. You're a paladin right?" I asked.

"Yep! My name's Gallow. Nice to meet'cha Pyron." He gave a happy smile.

The one holding the rifle looked down on me before he jumped down, placing his rifle on his back. He started making his way over to the patrol route that was assigned to them. I started walking too and the paladin followed shortly after.

When we reached the start of our route, I realized that I didn't ask the person in front of me what their name was. I sped up my pace a little and walked beside them. They looked really serious and just kept walking normally.

"Hey, I... uh, didn't get your name yet." I asked him.

He gave me a small glance and sighed.

"It's Shawk."

He continued his silent march onward, not even stopping once. I slowed down, bu I kept walking. Shorty after though, the paladin caught up to me and patted me on the back with a thump. I was a little startled by this.

"Don't worry about him Pyron. He's like this to everyone, so don't take it personally."

He gave a laugh after saying that. We continued our patrol seeing nothing out of the ordinary.

Eventually, the blizzard started picking up and I couldn't see as well. And this suit didn't seem frost resistant at all, it was way too cold. I should tell Isabel about that when I get the chance.

Then I realized that left my weapon back in the caravan because I'm an idiot. I stopped in my tracks and started running back.

"Hey! Pyron, where you going?" Gallow yelled out confused.

"Give me a minute, I'll be right back. I just left something back at the camp."

After backtracking for about a few minutes, I had arrived at the camp, everyone was still resting or doing something else. I went back over to the caravan and after awhile I managed to reach it. I found my sword in my seat, where I left it. I should really stop forgetting things so often. I was probably too excited that's why.

Meanwhile, back over to the two agents that I left alone on the patrol route we were supposed to scout out for awhile.

They continued their cold march, both still in the same state as I left them.

Gallow glanced over to Shawk who was still as unamused as he was before. He sighed and gave a worried smile. His friend was always so cold and distant, and yet, he still cares a lot about him.

"Shawk, buddy. You shouldn't give Pyron such a hard time. He's just doing his job you know. I'm sure you've heard about him, right?" He was still smiling.

"Of course I know who he is. A prodigy of the knights, he managed to rise up to his rank so fast. He graduated the academy quickly and at the top of his class too. It's just... not fair. I've been working for this order for nine years. Nine! Just because he did really well doesn't give him the right to get that high up in the order in less than two years."

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Gallow gave a worried sigh. He tried to cheer his best friend up with another smile.

"Hey, don't be like that. Life is all about surprises, and just because something doesn't go the way you want it too, doesn't mean it's a bad thing. If you keep looking behind you all the time you'll never be able to see the things that have yet to happen. That's why you should always keep looking forward."

Shawk's expression dropped down a little and he rubbed his arm.

"I... I guess you're right. Thanks Gal." He gave a little bit of a smirk when he said that. Gallow kept walking, happy because he managed to cheer his friend up.

But after awhile, walking through the blizzard, he managed to see something up ahead, something bright. He tried to take a closer look and saw that there was a figure, but there was something off about it. It was surrounded by fire.

"T-that's... a Riftling!" He yelled out as he drew his axe and went charging forward toward the enemy.

"Dammit Gallow! Don't yell out when you're going to attack." Shawk screamed at his friend who was going right into hostile territory. They made contact and Shawk took position in the snow, pulling his rifle out faster than Gallow charged forward.

He turned on his Syndex and contacted the captain and Pyron immediately. Gallow and the figure were already fighting in the snow, and then he looked through his scope and took aim at the figure. It was hard to see through the blizzard and they were fighting way to close to each other.

The figure launched out a massive fireball at his friend, but managed to parry it. That Riftling must be a Category A, at least. This is going to be difficult.

But Shawk wasn't any ordinary sniper. He has been practicing with his shot ever since he learned how to use a gun, the best shot in the team probably. He took a deep breath and fired right away.

He only managed to graze his face. He missed him.

What? That's impossible! There's no way he could have dodged that! His reflexes must be that fast, or he can move faster than I can take a shot. Either way, I have can't miss the next shot. Gallow is going to be in trouble if I can't take him down.

I reloaded immediately after taking the first shot, my heart racing. I focused hard and took aim. I exhaled slowly and pulled the trigger. It cut through the cold air and was going to hit the target dead in the face.

"Yes! I got him!"

Right after seeing the bullet collide, something wasn't right. There was a bright flash of light and the figure was still standing. Before he could process what just happened a magic circle had appeared by his palm and a blue bolt projectile was fired at me. I didn't have time to dodge as the bolt hit the centre of my gun, shattering it.

The blast was strong enough to blast Shawk back into the snow. He was in a lot of pain, even if it wasn't a direct hit, it was just a shockwave. He was gasping and could barely move. It must have a been a parabolt or something. His Syndex made a noise, and it connected him to Pyron and the captain.

"Captain, we... we've been attacked..." Shawk managed to say as he could feel himself about to go unconscious. He held his arm as jolts of pain ran through his body.

Pyron's voice rang out from the device.

"Shawk?! Shawk, are you okay? What's going on?" The concern in his tone was very apparent. Shawk managed to say one more thing before he collapsed.

"Come and... help Gal... he can't beat it... It's... a triple S."

Two confused and shocked voices were heard coming from the device.

"What?! Shawk! Where are you? Are you sure it's a triple S?! Shawk!"

The captain was yelling out, the urgency made him panic, he didn't know that there was a Category SSS in the area, and he knew he wasn't prepared for it at all, let alone the rest of the team.

Shawk lost consciousness for a second, and then the call was dropped.

After lying there in the snow for awhile, Shawk was prepared for what was going to happen to him. He felt guilt and anger for not being able to help his friend. But he didn't want to die like this.

He heard a large blast coming from where Gallow and that Rifling were fighting. That must have been the end for his friend. He could feel tears start to form in his eyes.

The sound of crunching snow, like footsteps, started getting closer to him. He looked up saw a dark figure, he was still unable to move or react. He could feel fear in his heart overflowing; there was nothing to save him now, and then he shut his eyes.

The figure raised a hand and he prepared himself for the last moment he would have. Then he felt heat around his body, but he didn't die, and he wasn't burning. He was still alive, and the figure just walked away.

And Shawk thought about one thing as he lay there.

"Who- who was that?" Was the only thing that could come to his mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was thinking of putting this story on hiatus for awhile, what do you think?