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...
My dear reader, I won't lie to you... this episode leaves me feeling a bit melancholy because, with it, we say goodbye to this series. It's surreal for me to finish something I've spent nearly two years of my life updating regularly.
Blood & Carrots has clocked in at nearly half a million words and barring a few hiccups, was something I wrote on nearly every day, even as I juggled writing my novel and novella which you should look for later this year. I wrote this through some of the most challenging times I've ever faced personally, even taking comfort in escaping to create in my world and forget about the tribulations of life.
Ah well, I'm getting long in my words here, you came here to read, not listen to my rambling. For the final time, let us look in on our vixen, and maybe even a certain rabbit whom we all know well. Once again, and for the last time, let's jump right in!
—♥—
Final Episode:
Equinox
Stepping into the foyer I put a hand on my hip, my other resting on the grip of my saber. I had changed into rugged jeans with a ballistic's jacket over my t-shirt, my revolver at my side. Alice looked like she had the same idea, wearing a similar jacket but with a set of cargo pants.
She tugged at her fingerless gloves, her eyes already red as she looked upon me with a grin, her rolled-up whip at one side, her two guns at her back. "You also expecting to go in hot, love?"
I gave her a small smile and looked around, seeing no one but her. "Where is everyone?"
"Kaz already moved them and the angels. He's taking a minute to catch his breath, moving so many bodies through gates in short succession can be taxing, even for someone like him."
Folding my arms I frowned at her. "I don't like you putting yourself in-"
"Can you knock that off right there?" Alice snarled back in response, thrusting a finger at me. "I'm just as capable and you know it. If things go south I'll not sit on my tail while you all deal with the fallout."
I clicked my tongue and looked away, folding my arms but saying nothing, my tail snapping back and forth in obvious annoyance. The voice in my mind chimed in, 'She has every right to feel this way.'
'How about you shut up?'
'How about you trust our lovers more? I get we're invested and protective, but she's a chimera. Also, like Katrina, she may surprise us.'
'Frankly, I'd rather avoid any surprises and just know she's safe, but I get it.'
Alice peered up at me, tapping my nose with her finger and bringing me out of my internal debate with a huff of breath. "Arguing with yourself, babe?" She showed me a crooked grin before stepping back.
"Something like that," I growled the words as reality seemed to shift away before us, as if a curtain parting as Kazemde stepped forth from a gate.
"I apologize for the delay, all this ferrying is taxing upon me. I should have enlisted a few members from the circle to aid in the logistics." The mage gave a winded huff as he hissed the words, then offered us both a bow.
"Thanks for working so hard on this, Kazemde." I gave him a nod and looked past the gate, seeing most of the group on the other side. All of the archangels were present, as well as Lorelai, Elias, and the rest of our family.
"I should have words with my husband for not waiting for me." I huffed and stuck my nose up in the air, my tone irritable.
"He wanted to be the first to go, to make sure everything was safe, Sarnai." Kazemde gave me a knowing smile as he explained.
"Then Alex and Katrina started arguing with him about it, and the next thing you know, all of them were going at once. I said I'd wait behind to collect you." Alice showed me a grin, then gripped my hand in her own, giving me a dutiful stare.
I clenched her hand, showing my sharp teeth as I took a step forward. "Then let's get this show on the road, I'll properly thank you for your chivalry later, my rabbit."
"Oh, I simply can't wait." She hummed eagerly as we stepped forward, both our tails flicking about while we held hands.
I felt the energy and recognized it for what it was, this local was the Faemarch, though it felt different from before. As to where I felt the summer spirit's energy entirely, here it felt muted as if competing with the other three's. Perhaps this was a conflux where their realms all met and none had an advantage.
I'll admit that when I stepped forward, I expected to feel solid ground under my feet, as the rest seemed to be standing on packed earth. I saw my husband's smile fade as his eyes widened and saw Lorelai's mouth gap as if she were going to say something.
I gave a surprised bark as I simply fell right past the scene, Alice giving a shocked yell of my name as our grip broke and I found myself in a freefall. My teeth clenched as I looked up, seeing the rabbit reaching for me as the gate I had fallen through was already closing.
Snarling to myself, I quickly took stock of my situation, wondering if I needed to accommodate for a massive fall, but I could already see vibrant lush fields of rolling green grass. The descent was only about a dozen stories so I was able to land gracefully enough to not topple to the earth, though I did feel it shift beneath my weight from the impact.
I remained there in a kneeling position, having caught myself with a bent knee, both hands resting on the ground. A light breeze caught my raven hair as it settled along my back and I rose to my feet, giving a bored look over the field while my tail flicked a few times. The grass was dotted with a variety of brightly chromatic flowers, showcasing every shape, size, and color but blending seamlessly with grass to not be overwhelming on the eyes.
"You're just full of surprises, aren't you?" I barked out into the open air loudly, keeping a relaxed stance despite feeling the overwhelming power of spring all around me.
The ninetails was simply before me, no signs of having ever been there until I perceived her. She sat cross-legged in the field, the ornate green robe now sporting some plates of armor at her shoulder and hips. Her one paw rested on a large curved sword that looked not unlike a katana, but was clearly sharp on both sides.
"Sarnai Blackpaw, I'll admit I've not bothered to remember any of your kind's name other than that deplorable sheep," Triallia snarled as she slowly climbed to her footpaws which were still bare.
"You watch how you address my lover." I gave my own growl, my stance still unchanged as I lifted my head, poking my nose into the air.
"One of many no doubt. You stink of sex, fox. That wolf, the angel, both the ones that came into the fray in our last conflict... You certainly get around, don't you?" The ninetails gave me a challenging grin, showing the rows of sharp teeth as she poked her own muzzle up in a haughty display.
I gave my own smug grin, flicking my tail as I ran my fingers through my hair in a flamboyant display, and huffed. "Well, what can I say? At least I've a sex life, how many cobwebs are you sporting down there?"
Triallia narrowed her eyes at my jab and gripped the hilt of her curved blade tightly. "The tedium and fascination of sex is useless to one as old as me, I've long since quit that hobby."
"Ha! I'd imagine the spirit of spring would be all about breeding and reproduction, are you sure you're not the winter spirit, after all?" I barked out the words mockingly, then showed her a fierce grin as she glared in fury at me.
"You will not mock me!" She brought the blade forth with a snarl and I drew my own saber in response, as well as my revolver.
"What did you think I'd do, blubber, and beg for mercy over this little stunt?" I hissed out and narrowed my eyes, seeing her bend slightly at her knees.
"I know of your little parlay with my siblings. You may have outmaneuvered me, but before the dust settles on that, you and I will have our resolution, Sarnai Blackpaw. I'll not leave this unsettled."
"You know what? I'm fine with this, I would have recommended we duel for satisfaction once it was over with anyway." I showed her a fierce grin, then frowned when I saw the look of surprise in her eyes.
"Truly? You would have sought to do battle with me, even with the peace you had sought, won?" The ninetails tilted her head curiously, her myriad of tails rolling behind her.
I relaxed my stance slightly and nodded. "I would have, yes. I would have requested a non-lethal one, since we were no longer enemies, but here we are all the same."
