Blood & Carrots - Silverpaw Ep. 20

Welcome back, my lovely reader~

If this is your first visit to Silverpaw, I strongly recommend starting from

episode one

to get the best experience.

If you are new to Blood & Carrots as a series, you need to start with

the first serial

if you want to fully enjoy it, no 'silverpaw' in the title.

Take your time, I'll wait for you to catch up. :3

♥

And with that out of the way...

I apologize for that cliffhanger, my lovely reader. I know you're probably chomping at the bit to get back to it, but let's take a step back to see how we got to that point shall we?

Suffice to say there's some major conflict on the horizon in this episode. We'll have to see how our vixen handles things. Also, there's a bit more to say about Katrina in this episode and it's not all combat-related if you know what I mean.

Alright, let's jump right back into it then!

—♥—

Episode: 20

Foxes in the Faemarch

I thrust my hand out as I landed on the deck of my ship after leaping to it. "Lorelai, bring in the anchor, Elias get on the rigging!"

"Aye aye!" They both showed me a playful grin but followed my orders as I hastily moved to the wheel.

"I wager the island is about a ten to fifteen minute trip at full sail, so let's not dawdle," Huffing out the words I turned the wheel, cursing at the position Kazemde had summoned the ship in, the bow facing entirely the wrong direction.

Within minutes we were on our way. The waters were fairly rough, but nothing compared to what I had dealt with in the past. Why, once I even sailed through a hurricane on one of my spice runs, now that was nerve-wracking.

I gripped the wheel a little tighter, thinking of my cat and those with her, as well as the twins with the mage. I tried to put on a brave front, but we were all in very real danger, and I couldn't help but worry for them.

"We're really making good time, great work Sarnai." Lorelai gave me a proud smile, putting her hands on her hips.

"This is nothing, even Katrina could handle these waters." I gripped the wheel, pulling to adjust the angle of the ship, keeping the wind in the sails as I gazed over the water. It looked like any other body of water, no doubt an inlet that emptied out into an ocean, given the impossibly large body of water east of us.

"In truth, it's a shame we can't see more of this world. It looks similar, but I'd love to see the flora and fauna of the Faemarch." Lorelai frowned as she rested a hand gently upon my arm while I steered.

"Who knows, mayhaps we could ask to visit as guests if the negotiations go well." Elias shrugged and shifted his gaze towards the island that was growing larger as we approached.

"That truly is wishful thinking husband, I'll maintain my more realistic view and just focus on getting this over with," I growled my reply as I straightened the ship after a heavy gust of wind pulled her to the side slightly.

A few minutes passed and Lorelai nodded as we drew closer to our destination. "Sarnai, you stay with the ship, me and Elias will disembark to collect the conduit."

I snarled in response to her orders. "I don't think so, what happens if you're beset upon by enemies?"

"And what happens if we need to make a hasty exit and the ship isn't ready to go? You stay, get her turned around, and ready to move. Me and your husband can handle any riff-raff that hangs about."

"Fine." I grumbled as I felt her will push forth, telling me it wasn't up for discussion.

"We'll be fine, love. Just have faith in us and get her ready for the return trip." Elias moved to my other side to kiss my cheek gently, his own will pushing forth to comfort me as I gave a nod.

We were nearly a hundred yards out from the shore when Lorelai nodded to Elias. "We disembark now brother, it will give her plenty of room to turn the ship."

"Right." The white fox showed me a toothy grin as he waved a hand. "Be back soon, love."

"Yeah yeah, pick up some milk and bread while you're out." I grumbled the snarky reply as I was already pulling the wheel to readjust for the turn. I watched both sprint down the deck before bounding off and landing on the shore, then they were out of sight in a blur of motion.

Clicking my tongue, I tried to focus on my task and not worry over the two of them. 'Isn't this exciting sister?' I lifted my ears, hearing my own thoughts come to me as I rolled my eyes.

'I think I liked it better when you only bothered me when we were asleep.'

'Don't be that way! This just shows you trust me more and I trust you as well. It's not like I couldn't experience everything you did already, no need to stop masturbating or having impromptu sex on my part. Your pleasure is my pleasure after all.'

'How are you a part of me yet speak so crudely? Have some self-respect.'

I maintained the mental conversation in my head as I steered the ship back into position for a return trip, then stepped from the wheel to look back at the island with a sigh, putting a hand on my hip. "Gods, I hope everyone is okay," I spoke the words aloud even as my other side answered in my head.

'I'm sure they are fine. Katrina is much stronger now and you've witnessed first hand the strength Alex now possesses, to speak nothing of Gloria's new powers I'm sure.'

'Everyone is doing their best and getting stronger, I feel we're being left behind...'

'Don't worry sister, you've got me and the powers I cultivated over the centuries with you. I wasn't just sitting around just idly making nightmares after all. We'll keep working together to keep our loved ones safe.'

I showed my teeth in a grin, shaking my head as I sighed out, "Ha... I traded one madness for another. Still, this is preferable to the previous one, at least I'll never be lonely."

My ears lifted as I gave a startled bark, seeing a beam of golden light erupt from deep in the forest of the island my two lovers were on. "What in the nine hells?!"

I had half a mind to leap from the ship to the island after them, but a few moments later I saw their figures sprinting down the beach. My eyes widened as I realized the golden light was expanding, enveloping the island.

"Gods!" I barked out before I blurred over to pull the rigging free, bringing the sails to full mast, even as Lorelai and Elias toppled onto the deck, nearly crashing into me.

"Get this tub moving, Sarnai!" Elias barked out as he scrambled to his feet.

"Don't call my ship a fucking 'tub' husband!" I shouted with a glare as I grabbed the wheel and spun it hard, trying to catch as much wind in the sails as I could. The light was moving fast and coming right at us, even if I had the modern engine on this thing going, I questioned if we could outrun it, but it stopped expanding several yards from the shore.

"Are we clear?" Lorelai huffed as she moved to the railing to look upon the light, then the ship lurched as we all gave a shocked gasp.

I jerked my head back to see the light fade, a massive hole being filled in with water remaining, the current pulling at the ship and threatening to drag her into it as the sea filled the displaced earth.

"Fuck me!" I snarled out and grabbed Lorelai's shoulder. "Hold the damn wheel!"

The sheep did as I told her and I quickly sprinted below deck, moving to the gasoline-powered engine in the yacht's belly. I said I preferred sails, but I certainly didn't shirk modern advances when the chips were down, sails could tear apart after all. I quickly topped the reserves off, even as I felt the ship drifting backward now.

It felt like an eternity to get the damn thing started, but soon enough the old machine groaned to life, adding some much-needed momentum to our sails. I returned to the deck and gave a relieved sigh as I realized we were actually holding steady now and not being pulled.

"What now?" Lorelai asked as she stepped from the wheel to let me take it once more. I snarled and spun it, trying to catch the wind, but the current was still pulling. "Damn... we wait for that hole to fill and the water flow to ease, it's all we can do."

"How long will that take?" Elias barked out in frustration.

"How the fuck should I know? How big was that island, how deep did that light cut? Can you answer those questions, husband?!"

"Both of you calm down!" Lorelai huffed out and put her hands on her hips, glaring upon us. I scowled but did as she asked, returning my focus to the wheel, trying to get every scrap of sail into the wind I could.

It took longer than I liked, but after a few minutes, the gaping hole started to finish filling and the boat started to gain momentum. I gave a relieved bark as I felt the wind catch and we started moving. "Yeah! That's my girl, I knew you could do it!"

"That was a bit hairy, what's our time looking like?" Elias asked.

Lorelai looked at the watch and nodded. "I suppose things seem to drag in the moment. We've still around half an hour."

"Nice, we might even beat the others back!" I called out with a haughty tone in my voice as the ship gained momentum.

"Everything is a competition with you, eh love?" Elias hummed the words playfully.

"Hey, nothing wrong with a little friendly competition," Lorelai chimed in with a smile, showing she had my side of the topic.

I showed her a smile, my eyes softening as she gave me a relieved look, her hand moving to grip mine as it held the wheel. "Good job, you kept it together and even remembered all the tools at your disposal. I'm proud of you, my fox."

I couldn't help but blush as I huffed out, hearing her praise me. "Damn, it's not like starting an old engine was that big of a deal."

"Well it kept us from being pulled in, I'd say it was." Elias moved to the other side of me, also grasping one of my hands.

My tail wagged as they both praised me, then I gave a haughty grin. "That's enough you two, I can't steer the damn ship with all this hand-holding."

We settled into a relaxed state for the return trip, everyone relieved things had started to smooth out. They explained there were around half a dozen guards, but Lorelai simply dominated their wills and took the sphere. It probably would have been a nice gesture she didn't kill them all, but the light mooted that attempt.

We were nearly back to shore when it happened. I didn't see it coming since I was focused on maneuvering the ship, but a lance of golden fire tore straight into the helm I was at. I would have taken it full-on had Lorelai not dove on me, pulling me from the blast.

"What the hell?! My helm!" I roared out with a snarl, then my eyes widened as I saw a massive wave of fire soaring towards the bow of the ship.

"No time, let's go!" Elias quickly snatched me up and threw me over his shoulder as he sprinted down the deck with Lorelai in pursuit.

"Put me down!" I screamed out furiously even as he leaped from the deck. I got a birds-eye view of the golden fire slamming into the ship, tearing and burning away several meters of it as she started to take on water.

We had barely landed as I pulled from him and ran a few yards towards the edge of the beach, my teeth clenched as I stomped my foot, feeling my eyes growing slightly wet. "My fucking ship!"

"Honey... we've got bigger problems," Elias growled the words as I spun around with a furious snarl, seeing another ninetails landing on their footpaws, ascending from the sky.

He wore an ornate-looking robe of deep green and gold that clearly showed the definition of his chest. His fur pattern reminded me of Triallia's but it had a much deeper green to it, the fur turning to an almost mint-looking color under his muzzle as it moved down his chest. His hair also was different, looking like spun gold laced with bright green brambles and coming down to the base of his tails that spread out behind him, the tips of them also gold.

Golden flames rolled off his handpaws as he cocked his head to the side with a snarl coming from his throat. "You little thieves have something that belongs to me, I'll have you return it now, if you don't-"

He gave a sharp bark as I sent a lance of blood-red hellfire straight into his chest, sending him sprawling back several yards as I bound forward, my arms, legs, and tail caked in flames. "You son of a bitch, that was my fucking ship you sank!"

The ninetails gaped his mouth as I leaped high above him and sent two more spears of hellfire straight towards him, narrowly blinking out of sight as they crashed into the sand, leaving a large crater of glass in their wake.

I felt his presence behind me even though I was still coming down from my jump, then a lance of golden fire was sailing towards me. I turned in the air to send my own hellfire to intercept it, but then I saw my husband's radiant fire blaze through the air, crashing into it and sending it off course. I landed on my feet as the ninetails landed before me several yards away.

Elias and Lorelai were at my side, my husband burning his radiant fire, the sheep with both her blades drawn.

"Great spirit, it's nothing personal, but know you'll have your power back in time. Stand down, there is no need for us to cross this line!" Lorelai hissed out the words as flames drifted from her hands, her will pushing out in a mighty wave of force.

The fox took a step back and cocked his head, acknowledging he was impressed by the show of will, then he extended a handpaw. "I care not for the details, I'll have that shard back, now."

"I'll have my fucking ship back, now!" I roared out the words as I sent another lance of fire, the ninetails giving an annoyed huff as he blurred to the side to avoid the blast.

I glanced to the side of us, seeing the gate a few dozen yards away as I set my jaw and nodded at Lorelai. "Get to the gate, I'll keep him distracted."

The sheep glared furiously at me. "You are mad, Sarnai! I'll not leave you to-"

We all shuddered and felt the overwhelming energy suddenly upon us. I felt a chill run up my spine, hesitating as I clenched my jaw and slowly looked to my side, seeing Triallia standing there.

The foxes tails fanned out as she remained there, her footpaws not quite touching the sand. She wore a similar robe to the one that the summer spirit wore, but the top was drawn to cover her chest. She also had on a cloak that clearly covered her right shoulder where I had severed her arm.

"This power... Gods, I've never felt something like it." Elias spoke out in awe as he set his stance.

Lorelai showed her teeth as she straightened herself and brought her sword forward. "Triallia, greater spirit of the Faemarch! You've much to answer for, striking against my kinsmen without provocation!"

"Spare me your melodramatics, Lorelai Tahmineh. They'll serve you little good here," Triallia snarled back in response, thrusting a hand out towards the three of us.

The spirit shifted her gaze to me and showed her teeth in a wide grin. "I thought I sensed your presence and came right away, how could I not greet, the one, that I owe, so, much, pain!" The last of the words were barked out in a mad-sounding tone.

I set my jaw as I spread my hands. "I hoped you'd show your face, bitch, I owe you a thing or two as well!"

"Sister! What are you doing in my realm without justification!" The summer spirit snapped out the words furiously.

"There's no way we can all fall back. Sarnai, take the orb from my pocket and get to the gate with Elias. I'll hold them off." The sheep hissed the words through clenched teeth, setting her stance as Triallia glared upon us, then cut her gaze towards her brother.

"Oh come off it brother! I'm doing you a favor here!" Triallia spat the words back at him, but when she averted her eyes I made my move.

I fired off a lance of hellfire at both the ninetails, each of them half-expecting it and darting back, but hitting them wasn't my aim. I quickly leaped back, grabbing both Elias and Lorelai's collars, turning my power to full as I spun and flung both of them as hard as I could towards the gate.

"Sarnai, are you mad?!" Lorelai screamed out as she flew backward, a look of shock on her face, a similar one showing on my husband's.

"No!" The summer spirit roared out as he blurred forward, but I leaped to intercept him, slamming my foot into his jaw, sending him sprawling as both Lorelai and Elias flew through the opening.

I found my footing and jerked my gaze to see Triallia standing between me and the gate now, clenching her handpaw as she grinned upon me. "How noble, how noble indeed..."

"Fuck off, I just didn't want them getting between us." I huffed out and drew my saber, lowering my ears. "Come here, I'll take that other arm off, bitch!"

'Sister... are we gonna die?'

'Probably, sorry, but I couldn't see them-'

'Don't, I feel the same. Let's give the two of them hell, make them earn it.'

I showed my teeth in a wide grin at my internal thoughts even as Triallia scowled and summoned green flames that rolled up her arm from her paw.

The other ninetails screamed out at Triallia in frustration, "Sister! They took the shard! This is no time-"

"Oh sod your damn shard, brother! Just stay out of this!" She hissed back at the other fox, glaring upon him.

"No! This damnable vampire just cost me some of my power, I'll not-"

"I'll get your stupid shard back if you stay out of this, on my word!" She howled out furiously, stomping her foot and I showed my teeth in a grin, shouldering my saber.

"Upon your word?" The summer spirit crossed his arms, lifting his chin.

"Yes! I care not about our power struggle, only putting this bitch in her place. You have my word that I'll retrieve your stupid bauble when I go ransack their world, just stay out of this!"

"So be it." The other ninetails gave me a bored look as he leaned back on his own tails. "Well try to put on a good show at least."

I showed him a wide grin then returned my focus to Triallia who had simply vanished. Then, like before she was right in my face, however, she was met with the fist that held my saber as I drove it straight into her jaw.

The other fox gave a shocked yip as my flames scorched some of her fur as she took a step back from the blow, my saber swinging up in an arch that she narrowly pivoted from.

Hopping back, she wiped her muzzle, seeing blood come away before giving me a furious growl. I showed her a wide mad grin as I tapped my saber on my shoulder. "Speed isn't everything you predictable curr, you face Sarnai Blackpaw, the scourge of the straits of Gibraltar!"

"Your self-imposed titles mean nothing to me!" She roared out furiously as she blurred out of sight, I simply swung my free hand in a wide arch, a blast of hellfire blinding her as she tried to close, then brought my blade down. She narrowly sidestepped again, but not without a cut to show for it on her other shoulder, the green fur parted to show bloody flesh.

'Can we do this?!'

I gave a winded huff as I shook my head and thought to myself, 'I don't think so, I'm burning at full to keep up, but the longer we distract her, the better chance she doesn't sense the others that may still be here in the Faemarch.'

Triallia showed me a furious glare, then huffed and composed herself, putting a paw to her hip as she relaxed her stance. "The flame flares brightest before it goes out, eh?"

"Let's find out then! Turn your flames to full before I take your fucking head off!" I barked out and launched forward, driving my flaming saber at her throat. The spirit simply sidestepped and delivered a punch to my face that sent me sprawling back several yards, digging up earth and sand before I finally caught myself and climbed to my feet, teeth clenched.

"It's been a fun game, little fox, but you might as well be an ant standing before the sun. Ah, but we know what the sun does to your kind, don't we?" She hummed the words as she casually strode forward, flames rolling off her handpaw.