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Runaway! 1: The Boy Whose Name Rhymes With Fire
15. The Boy And The Mountain Lion

15. The Boy And The Mountain Lion

Let us begin this chapter, by taking a look at the thoughts of the man by the name of Jason Hessenger

Jason: (thinking: This situation... is... complicated....)

Yes, as you may imagine

Hmmm?

You understand?

Yes, of course

Jason himself sees it all

Truly, he does

For, in the end of this... death seems... unavoidable

And their lives... may well not come out of this.

Dear reader, do you perhaps partake in a trade that requires that you... say...

... murder those around you?

Hmmm?

Nay?

Well... I suppose that is of the best

Hmmm?

Me?

Why... I would rather not get into that

It would simply take far too much time to get into

Hmm?

You would still like to know?

Well... I suppose I could tell you... but... another time dear reader, another time

That being said...

... of those whose ways of life require such...

... may I say this as a piece of advice

... when you take a life...

Be wary....

... for those who loved that life...

... very often return to get their revenge

Yes

It matters not what the dead may have done to deserve it

Nay

When one loses a loved one...

... as they say...

... a pig would fly...

... before they forgave you.

Yes, indeed.

When you end a life... be wary...

... for you bare the risk... truly...

the hunter may become the hunted

Truly...

Moving along...

... amidst the sounds of flames and fires...

... the four men stood.

Thorton facing Wallace

Jason facing Dwight

Jason: (thinking: Tch... if only....)

Yes, truly, in only...

If only... they had, perhaps, not killed that woman...

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Why... had they not, they would not be in this situation

For had they not, Jason Hessenger would not have this problem

A decisive battle against two... motivated... opponents

And in enemy teritory... no less.

To make things worse...

Jason: (thinking: And that man...)

The one of whom he though was Wallace

Jason: (thinking: ... may well strike at any moment.)

And of that, he was true

For he, yet again, raised his spear to Thorton

Thorton: Well... well.... You want of more?

Yes... even in his voice dear reader, even a fool could hear it.

Fear.

Truly.

This man had fear in his heart.

And as for his grinning face...

.. truly, he was forcing it.

Tis a fascinating thing when one realises they may have...

... how you say...

.. bitten off more than they can chew.

Truly, dear reader, truly...

... tis a terrifying thimg..

For now...

Even Thorton Hessenger...

... this violent man....

... had now felt true fear...

As for his comrade...

Jason: (thinking: Our best chance is to trade opponents. That would end the fight fastest and in our favour.)

The man by the name of Jason Hessenger...

... he pulled his blade out and pointed at Dwight...

Jason: (thinking: I simply have to be... clever about it.)

Hmmm... yes....

Truly, tis in a shinobi to use tricks in battle

Hmmm?

What tricks?

Well... dare I say...

... while knights do indeed hold a code of honour...

... even during battle...

... shinobi can be...

how you say... quite... cowardly...

Well... I suppose the results shall speak for themselves

Moving along...

Jason: Brother... I...

However, ... the man by the name of Wallace Darlington was not to give his enemy a chance

Nay.

Not even a moment

He simply...

Yes, why of course.

He used the same tactic again

Lunging suddenly I say

However, this time, Thorton Hessenger was better prepared

Yes

He dodged once more, avoiding the massive man and his spear

And... before Jason could even go further with his speech

Dwight himself, as though to answer his compatriot, also started his attack

Yes, indeed

Swinging his sword wildly

... Truly...

He did indeed charge at his opponent...

Without as much as a worry of what would happen

Hmmm?

Oh, yes.

Perhaps I should warn you.

Have ye heard of the tale of the boy who cried mountain lion?

Truly...

Tis a poetic tale

A young boy, tending to goats, perhaps for want of attention...

... perhaps for want of a show of love

... perhaps for mere fun...

... did indeed three times lie of an attack of a mountain lion

... and... what of it?

Well... the boy dared to lie a fourth time

And... of his people...

yes...

... they did ignore him....

And of that... and many another thing... did they also ignore him...

Tis a good lesson to learn, do you not think?

In the end of this great tale... nay...

not a man would trust him with a thing...

Truly, I say unto you, my dear reader...

... men and women are... how you say... creatures of habit..

... therefore, make it not a habit to lie...

.. for... once your enemy learns of this... then... yes...

... they... even they... will cease to trust you.

Moving on...

Jason Hessenger, seeing the incoming blade, cursed under his breath

However, he was, even much to the surprise of Dwight, a quite light footed man

Indeed

Dodging every blow, left and right

Truly, an incredible man himself, he was

But... as for Thorton....

while he did indeed dodge as well...

Well... I suppose I could say...

... that compared to his brother in arms...

... his composure and gracefulness were...

lacking.

Thorton: (thinking: Why you....)

Yes, indeed.

Be it a duck, a swerve, even a light jump...

... he would have to wait, yes.

Wait until his opponent finally ceased his endless assualt.

Thorton: Ha! You fail to hit me!

But even then, Wallace would not speak.

Nay.

Not a word

Not an answer

As for Dwight.

Dwight: Tch... I will.... have you yet...

Even he... in his rage, would not falter

Nay.

With every thing he had, he swung his blade, each cut aimed at a vital spot

As for Jason...

Jason: (thinking: He is far too fast to simply run from. Tch... shame...)

And so, by doing this....

... well... I suppose neither knight was fully aware of this

... they had successfully separated the Hessengers from the other...

Pushing them back further and further...

until... well...

.. one could go so far as to say that it was his foolishness that brought him here..

... in more ways than one, mind you.

Seeing as, the man by the name of Thorton Hessenger...

... did indeed find himself at a wall.

Yes.

His very back was stuck at a wall.

Whatever manner of man finds his mind stuck on other matters in a battle should always be wary

Yes.

Keep your eyes on your surroundings...

or...

....suffer the consequences

For now, he was cornered, and Wallace did quietly approach him

As for Jason, for that very moment, he was concerned for his brother...

... concerned enough that he... as well... made a foolish error.

That being... the same as his brother in arms...

for Dwight's blade finally connected..

Yes.

Cutting merely a snippet of his hand

Yes, merely a snippet

A cut across his palm

But... that was all...

For that halted the Hessenger...

Halted him long enough that the knight would also be able to follow it it up

And, indeed Dwight did

He threw a punch from his left hand

A punch strong enough that it sent Jason to the air, only to land on the ground several feet further

Dwight: Yes. I have succeeded!

Truly, a dark moment for the Hessengers

Both, on the back foot

Well, I suppose the question is...

What are they to do now?

Well... for the man by the name of Jason Hessenger...

... the answer was obvious.

He simply... got back up

And set his eyes upon his oppenent

The answer?

Why...

Fight.