Vincenn stood in the shadows, his gaze fixed intently on the Korssin Barracks. It was as if he believed that through sheer force of will, he could bring down the entire structure, sparing himself the trouble of having to infiltrate it. Vincent grunted; the barracks, though perhaps not meeting legionary standards, was nevertheless imposing.
Before him, the building loomed several stories high, its rough-hewn stone façade exuding a sense of impenetrable strength. The windows, evenly spaced along the walls, were each secured with sturdy wooden shutters. Flags of the Rakassar Guard fluttered in the breeze, their emblems showcasing a wolf's helmet atop a tiger’s skull set against a crimson background.
A pair of substantial wooden doors, reinforced with iron bands, marked the entrance. Above them, a grand stone archway, intricately carved, bestowed a semblance of grandeur upon the otherwise austere structure. The expansive courtyard, with its well-maintained cobblestone pathways and neatly trimmed hedges, contrasted sharply with the barracks' formidable appearance.
Yet, what caught Vincenn's attention and fueled his suspicion was the front door. Slightly ajar, it seemed almost inviting, an anomaly that didn’t escape his trained eye. No competent guard would leave the entrance so carelessly unsecured unless it was a deliberate ploy. ‘Mother’s tits, this smells like a bloody trap,’ he thought, his mind racing with the possibilities of what lay within and the dangers of stepping into such an obvious snare.
“Okay, boys, here’s how I see it: either the Rakassar are as useless as tits on a boar hog for security, or we’re walking into an ambush,” Vincenn muttered under his breath as he carefully scanned the side of the barracks. As Vincenn looked out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a glimmer of steel that immediately drew his attention. It turned out to be a door in the fence extending along the edge of the barracks’ side gardens. ‘Perfect!’
“There’s a fence door… by the edge of the side gardens. I don’t see anyone inside,” muttered Vincenn before looking at Felrum thoughtfully. Felrum flicked an ear in the hyena’s direction.
“Should we check it out?” Felrum’s mind whirred with calculations as he assessed the distance to the gate and weighed the dangers of picking the lock out in the open.
“Here’s your chance to impress me, rabbit; I want you to go over that fence into the gardens and see if you can sneak into the barracks. I want to know how many soldiers are there and see if you can find where the she-leopard is; if we are lucky, you can lead us right back to her, and we can finish this without having to wake up the whole city,” Vincenn looked down at Felrum with a smile that was meant to be reassuring, but instead seemed condescending.
“Smallest swift go… rabbit… Small rabbit sneak around, yes?” Zyra's suggestion was simple but earnest. Vincenn rolled his eyes, clearly exasperated, and replied, “Thank you for that… obvious insight,” his voice dripping with sarcasm. Felrum shot Zyra a sympathetic look, recognizing that the crocodile's grasp of Circi might not be his fault.
Felrum then spoke, addressing Zyra directly. “It can be useful; there’s no denying that,” He turned back to Vincenn, “Alright, but I’ll need a believable story if I get caught. Any ideas?”
Vincenn thought for a moment before responding. “The runt mentioned something about foxes… say you got tricked by them, or you're trying to hide from them. The latter seems more plausible.”
Felrum protested, “Seriously, that’s the best you can come up with? After they stop laughing, they'll start stabbing!” He could imagine a horde of angry carnivores descending upon him with blades and fangs.
“You’re a rabbit. Just how much of a threat can you possibly be?” Vincenn said, a toothy grin spreading across his face, highlighting the contrast between them and the unspoken reality of their predicament. Felrum blinked his large eyes at that, his nose twitching rapidly.
“Besides, you just need it to work long enough to haul your cute ass out of there,” Vincenn added, his grin widening. Felrum flicked his ears back in disgust.
Resigned yet cautious, Felrum muttered, “Fine. This is a horrible idea, by the way.”
With those parting words, he slipped off towards the gate, his body tense and senses heightened, ready to face whatever awaited him in this precarious venture.
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Felrum's approach to the steel door was cautious, with each step soft and deliberate. Finding it securely locked, his nimble fingers quickly set to work, expertly removing the pins. With utmost care, he swung the door open. Anticipating a potential creak, his heart raced with anxiety. However, to his relief, the bars moved with silent ease, granting him unhindered access to the gardens beyond.
‘That was easy,’ he thought, slipping through the gate and carefully sliding it back into place.
Once inside, Felrum was engulfed by the darkness. He moved stealthily, his ears perked up, attuned to the slightest noise. He navigated through the neatly trimmed hedges and carefully tended flower beds, deliberately avoiding the winding pathways to prevent the crushed gravel from giving away his position. The stone benches and statues, which would have appeared majestic and inspiring in daylight, now cast sinister shadows. The subtle scent of earth and dampness filled his nostrils as he crept along.
Ahead, not too far away, a light glowed from an open corridor. ‘Honeypot,’ Felrum thought, moving silently towards the light, his footsteps muffled by fallen leaves. He soon realized it was the glow of a lantern shining through a partially open door. With a quick glance, he determined the corridor was deserted.
Felrum considered going back to inform the others, but the thought of Vincenn's smug grin held him back. Taking a deep breath and quickly surveying his surroundings, he felt the smooth handle turn beneath his paw as he slid through the door, finding himself in a long, lantern-lined corridor running the length of the barracks. A grin formed on his face as he pressed into the flickering shadows dancing with the lantern light.
Moving quickly, Felrum peered into room after room, finding nothing but empty offices. At the end of the corridor, he encountered an iron door. Shaking his head, he pulled off his hood and spent several moments listening carefully for any sound before attempting the door. Locked! He reached into a pouch on his belt, pulling out a set of lock picks and set to work. It took a couple of minutes, but the lock finally yielded to his skilled touch. The door opened smoothly, and Felrum peered out to see another corridor lined with doors stretching into the distance.
Voices reached Felrum's ears as he cautiously moved down the corridor. Although he couldn't discern the words, the tones were unmistakably male, filled with laughter and amused banter. The sounds seemed to emanate from the end of the corridor, where a bright light spilled out from an open door.
“Damn,” Felrum muttered under his breath. He had hoped to avoid any complications, but deep down, he had anticipated this. Moving with stealth, he edged along the corridor, sliding between pools of shadow, each step calculated to avoid detection. He peeked into some of the rooms as he passed, finding empty offices and storerooms filled to the brim.
Crouching behind a stack of neatly packed crates, Felrum found himself mere steps from the doorway of an office. Inside, two soldiers, likely part of the night watch, were visible. One, a tall and gray-furred wolf, stood by the door, casually holding a glass that appeared to contain wine. The other, a puma of average height with fur matching Felrum's own, sat at a desk, seemingly engrossed in work. Felrum strained his ears to catch the conversation.
The puma, who seemed to be the higher-ranking officer, was speaking. “… Ghost took them out, almost single-pawed. Cothron’s squad had nothing to do but keep them from escaping.”
Felrum's ears twitched at the mention of 'Ghost'. He was gathering valuable intelligence without even realizing it. He remained motionless, a silent observer, waiting for the right moment to proceed or retreat, all the while collecting every scrap of information that might prove useful.
“The Ghost of Fellya? Did that?” asked the wolf, his expression one of surprise as he looked at his superior.
"Of course she did. I tell you, I heard she killed a bear with her bare knuckles," the puma officer replied confidently.
"By the Mother, she must be something else," the wolf remarked, his tone a blend of reverence and fear. The puma nodded in agreement.
"What can I tell you? Shears are elite—they do nothing by halves. Anyway, she should be here from Cloistin within the hour with her prisoners, Sergeant," said the Puma.
"We should probably get going and prepare the stockade," the wolf suggested.
"Who’s on duty for that?" The puma shrugged in response.
"Not sure, yet," he said, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. The wolf murmured something inaudible to Felrum, to which the seated puma nodded, then added, "They got the fox siblings, too. The bird said they were in a bad state. Not that it matters. Bloody foxes will walk free in a fortnight.”
"I’d rather not be the one to take that duty—" the wolf's words trailed off as he and the puma exited the office and walked down the corridor, unknowingly passing right by Felrum’s hiding spot.
Most of the soldiers seemed to have been summoned away to receive prisoners, leaving the corridors less guarded than usual. Felrum glanced around, assessing the situation. From his perspective, the thinning of watchers wasn't necessarily a disadvantage. However, a frown creased his face as a troubling thought struck him. Where was the She-leopard? Could it be possible that she had already left, forewarned of their arrival? She had to be aware of the enemies she had. Just as Felrum was considering abandoning his search and returning to the others, his keen ears picked up a faint murmur of conversation from further down the corridor.
Pressing himself against the wall, Felrum cautiously moved closer, peering around the corner. At the far end, he saw four hooded figures engaged in a hushed conversation. He edged out slightly more for a better view. A lynx, his face partially obscured by a hood, came into his line of sight. Another figure, holding a torch and resembling a tiger, had their identity similarly concealed. The species or features of the other two figures remained a mystery, as they kept their backs turned.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Felrum retreated back into hiding, his mind racing. He observed them again, focusing especially on the one positioned to the left. There was something about the subtle sway in their hips, a hint of femininity that was discernible even from a distance.
‘That’s her!’ Felrum thought with a surge of excitement. He had identified their target, the She-leopard. Now, all that remained was to find out where she was headed and relay the information back to the others. With heightened senses Felrum prepared to follow, careful to maintain a safe distance and remain unseen.
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Vincenn shifted from hind paw to hind paw as he waited impatiently as the minutes ticked by. ‘Tordrin would have been back by now… stupid rabbit. Never should have let him go. Fucking purebloods, fucking elitist assholes.’ He glanced back at the barracks again.
“Where the bloody hell is that critter? I swear if that little coward has cut and run, I’ll mount him to the gate myself,” He muttered to himself, once again wishing he had his squad with him - Barga, Tordrin, and Sorina - instead of this motley crew of freaks. His people were unwaveringly loyal; they could have easily deserted when the chaos began, but they chose to stand with him. His gaze drifted towards the black gate, where he had instructed them to remain on the city's outskirts. They were poised to act if necessary, a strategic move to ensure their safety.
Now, with an unsettling message from Sorina, Vincenn felt an urgent need to conclude this business and reunite with them. While he was prepared to risk his own life, he staunchly refused to compromise the safety of his squad in the pursuit of a potentially dubious contact. The possibility of it being a trap weighed heavily on his mind, reinforcing his resolve to protect his team at all costs. ‘Which it will be with the way my luck has been.’
“Wait… long how?” rumbled Zyra, and Vincenn rubbed his temples, trying to ward off the headache he felt building.
“Look… Whatever your name was. It’s only been ten minutes; give the poofball a little time,” said Vincenn, and the crocodile rumbled his impatience.
“Time… important, not much waste have,” His tail moved lazily on the ground. He started fixedly at the doors, as if contemplating smashing through them.
“How long ago did your brother disappear?” asked Vincenn quickly, trying to distract the swamp lizard from doing something stupid. Zyra started squeezing the fabric of his gaiter as he gritted his teeth.
“A week ago. Happened should not, impossible are we from, lived we,” Zyra said, his speech breaking into a jumble of incoherent words and phrases as he rocked violently from side to side.
“Only part of family. Only one I treasure. Gone.” As he abruptly lurches into motion, heading towards the door.
“Hey… wait… dammit!” Vincenn snapped, chasing after Zyra. He couldn't help but wonder why the Mother seemed to despise him so much. Reaching the door, Zyra hesitated, his black eyes scanning the darkness. His hind paws shuffled anxiously before he finally pushed the door open fully.
“Oh, Mother fuck me!” With a growl emanating from deep within him, Vincenn locked his eyes on the gaping entrance that resembled a monstrous void, impossible to penetrate.
“You stupid…” Vincenn began, but his words were lost on Zyra. The crocodile stepped inside, disappearing into the shadows. Approaching the door with caution, Vincenn strained his ears for any sound from the vast expanse beyond, but his efforts to pierce the darkness proved futile. Standing there, he shifted uneasily on his paws, a sense of uncertainty gnawing at him. Beyond that threshold, there might be nothing but the foolish swamp lizard, or, worse, an entire garrison lying in wait for him.
“Croc, get your scaly ass back out here!” he hissed. Only silence answered him. Frustrated, he muttered, “Screw it,” and took a firm step forward. Vincenn carefully circled the door, mustering the courage to step into the dark abyss. As he ventured further, he felt as though he had entered a colossal, awe-inspiring hall. The spaciousness of the room became apparent, with its high ceilings stretching beyond his sight. Beneath him, the polished marble floor reflected a faint light seeping in from outside. A constant sensation of being watched plagued him, his heightened senses amplifying his unease and paranoia. The oppressive darkness and silence seemed to envelop him, escalating the tension as he moved deeper into the unknown. Suddenly, Vincenn cursed as he collided with something hard and unyielding. A flash of red crossed his vision as he staggered back, gasping for breath. To his surprise, he found Zyra halted just outside the door's light.
“You… filthy… idiot,” Vincenn wheezed as he caught his breath, watching Zyra, who looked back with a head cocked to one side, his expression inscrutable.
“Stay by the door,” Vincenn hissed. He tentatively ran his paws along the rough wall texture, navigating through the pitch-black void. The sound of his claws scraping against stone echoed in the silence until his paw finally closed around a torch. With practiced ease, he struck a spark, and the torch burst into flames. The crackling fire cast a warm glow, driving away the darkness. As Vincenn's eyes adjusted to the newfound brightness, a magnificent hall adorned with military regalia and banners unfolded before him, celebrating the valor and service of the noble Rakassars. Wooden paneling enhanced the dignified ambiance, polished brass fixtures, and stern portraits of distinguished leaders in gilded frames. The hall expanded into a network of doorways and corridors, leading to other parts of the barracks. Through the windows and down the hallways, faint signs of activity hinted that this ancient, noble structure was not as dormant as it had first appeared.
With renewed confidence, Vincenn strode towards the opposite end of the hall, his hind paws making soft echoes on the marble floor. He felt his pulse quicken when he spotted four figures standing at the end of the hallway. Unaware of his presence for now, but that could change at any moment. Considering his options, he decided to follow an old maxim: when in doubt, bluff.
“You there, I would speak with your commander! Now!” said Vincenn, projecting as much authority and arrogance into his voice as he could. The guards spun around, reaching for their weapons, their eyes fixed suspiciously on the hyena.
“Who are you? Identify yourself, hyena!” demanded the tiger, his voice filled with anger. Vincenn puffed out his chest and headed directly for the group.
“I am Captain Kuba. I’m here looking for a leopardess that’s suspected of treason!” Vincenn barked out authoritatively. The cougar and lynx exchanged glances as they fanned out to encircle him. Paws on sword hilts, their expressions cold and menacing.
“And I’m the fucking Caiser at my summer palace,” The tiger spat out indignantly as the lynx closed in on Vincenn from the left, “You get one more chance yeen, before we gut you like a squealing hog,”
With a nonchalant shrug, Vincenn drew his sword, striking with blinding speed. The blade's edge caught the lynx's paw, sending his sword clattering away as he yelped in pain. Vincenn then reversed his grip and delivered three rapid blows with the pommel of his sword. The lynx's muzzle burst in a shower of blood; he staggered back, collapsing against the wall and sliding to the floor, leaving a bloody trail. Vincenn flicked his grip back to a standard hold and positioned his sword in a low guard, facing the cougar with a menacing grin.
“As I was saying,” Vincenn continued, gesturing lazily with his blade towards the others, “I’m here for the leopardess. Or do any of you fancy a go?” The cougar, visibly stunned, stared in disbelief for a moment before slowly lowering his blade.
“Lyne, you coward!” spat the tiger as he drew his own blade and lunged at Vincenn, who parried his strike and lashed out, delivering an open-handed slap to the tiger’s face. The tigers’ eyes bulged in outrage at the insult. Vincenn started circling to the left, edging towards the leopardess, the tiger seeing the motion lunged and the clash of swords resounded in the corridor. He gritted his fangs and assumed a defensive stance, positioning himself protectively in front of the snow leopard. Vincenn grinned and came at him low, slashing with lightning quick jabs at the tiger’s legs, forcing him to back up quickly. The Tiger parried, then countered, his blade flashing out in a blur. Vincenn actually felt the tiger’s blade crease the fur on his cheek.
‘Fuck, that was close. Kitty is no slouch.’ Sliding back, Vincenn stepped slowly at first, then came on in a sudden rush, his blade coming in hard, right to left. “Just want to ask your girl some questions, is all. Make this easy and put down the sword.”
“You think I buy that load of bull, hyena? I know you are here to kill her.”
“Don’t really care what you think, kitty, but you could make this a lot easier and surrender,” countered Vincenn as he delivered a flurry of blows that drove the tiger back.
‘Gotcha pussycat.’ But then Vincenn felt a stab of fear as the tiger’s blade slipped under his own, and Vincenn had to throw himself backward. He brought his sword across as he did, trying to parry, but the tiger had already retracted his saber by then, his yellow eyes fixed on Vincenn as he beckoned him to come again. ‘Cocky bastard, but he’s good with a blade, I’ll give him that.’ Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lyne edging towards him. The cougar was trying to cut him off! ‘Shit not good.’ Vincenn backpedaled, desperately trying to prevent the cougar from getting around behind him. Suddenly, Zyra rushed forward like a charging bear. His tail lashed out as he put all of his force into it, catching the cougar firmly in the chest. His breath went out in an explosive whoosh as he was lifted bodily off the ground and slammed heavily into the wall, his sword clattering to the marble tiles. Scaly might be useful after all, thought Vincenn. As he tried to drive the target toward Zyra, hoping he would catch on.
“Just you and me now, pussycat,” he said mockingly.
Zyra lunged at the tiger, only to receive a swift, powerful blow to his stomach. Vincenn watched as Zyra's eyes rolled back, and he staggered, reeled, and finally collapsed to the floor. Unfazed, the tiger leaped and spun into action, slashing and thrusting with lethal precision, steadily driving Vincenn back. In a swift move, Vincenn pulled at one of the wall hangings and flung it towards the tiger, using the momentary distraction to regain his footing. He then swept his blade upward, clashing with the tiger's. The muscles in his neck bulged as he strained, pushing to overpower his formidable opponent.
“I’m here for her, even if I have to go through you to do so,” Vincenn growled, feeling his muscles burn. Suddenly, the tiger deftly shifted to the side, causing the hyena to hurtle away. He staggered, struggling to regain his balance, but ultimately crashed down hard onto the floor. Lights flashed behind his eyes, and a high-pitched ringing filled his ears. Instinctively, Vincenn rolled to the left, feeling marble fragments graze his face as the tiger's blow struck the ground, missing Vincenn's head by mere inches. A foot-paw then slammed into his chest, pressing down painfully. Vincenn squirmed futilely, gasping for air. Above him, the tiger raised his sword, its edge gleaming in the torchlight. Scimitar-like claws extruded, gripping the hilt tightly, poised for the final strike.
“Deiken takes you, hyena,” The tiger snarled as he brought the blade down, time seeming to slow. Vincenn squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the end.
'Sorina, I'm sorry,' he thought. Suddenly, a roar of agony snapped Vincenn's eyes open. He saw the tiger staggering back, trying to pull out an arrow that had suddenly sprouted from his shoulder. '’Bout time, rabbit!' Vincenn thought, seizing the opportunity. He drove his foot-paw hard into the tiger's groin, feeling it collide with bone and something rubbery and soft. The tiger dropped his sword, clawing at the air, and sank to his knees before rolling over on his side, writhing in silent agony on the floor.
Vincenn, panting heavily, rolled to his feet and kicked the tiger’s sword away. He spotted Felrum leaning nonchalantly against the far wall and snapped off a quick salute in his direction. But a slight movement caught his eye, making him spin around.
“Shit,” he snapped, seeing the snow leopard. She had used the confusion to slip away and was moments from reaching a door at the far end of the hall.
“Don’t let her escape!” Vincenn shouted, lunging towards the snow leopard. He realized almost instantly he wouldn't make it in time. Startled by his cry, the snow leopard seized the moment and sprinted towards the door at full speed. Vincenn watched as Felrum dropped to one knee, his ears twitching in concentration. He took aim and released an arrow, which flashed out from the darkness. The snow leopard let out a sharp yelp as the arrow struck her upper leg, sending her tumbling to the floor.