The Outcasts

Chapter 10

The moonless night opened its velvet wings over the land, muffling sounds and filling every corner with shapeless, crawling shadows. In the dim light of the stars, the groups were gathering in the specially chosen points outside the Citadel. The earth was trembling imperceptibly under their feet as the Moon thorn bushes were pushing towards the surface.

When the night reached its apex, the powerful vegetal hands dislodged chunks of the white walls, opening the way for the outcasts. They quickly spread on the streets, trying to go unnoticed as far as they could. The aim of the group lead by Satoru, which comprised Cora too, was to reach the Sanctuary and save the Silver Tree. They managed to get far enough when they bumped into the White Guards.

After the first moments of shock, both sides engaged in bitter fight and chase in the streets of the City.

People woke up to the noise of the battle and running. At first, they weren’t keen to intervene; but soon, some of them decided to help one side or the other and step into the fight. Above them all, the angry growl of clashing Shadowcats and ferdogs filled the air with chilling sounds…

Up in his residence, Asterius woke up to the sound of a heavy fist knocking on his door. He jumped out of his bed and listened intently: there was a strong rumour coming from the streets.

-Commander! shouted Rolf Asterianus, knocking nervously at the door of the main entrance. -We are under attacked by the outcasts! They are everywhere in the streets!

Asterius opened the door with an angry move and grabbed the young man.

-How could that happen?! Were you all sleeping in your posts?!!! Incompetent fools! You practically invited them in! What is your excuse, you...you i***t!!!?

But the young commander was not keen to take the bash and he dismissed the angry shouts of his uncle.

-We were not sleeping! They broke into the city by the breaches in the wall opened by the thorn bushes that grew overnight! There was no sign of them yesterday evening! You know very well that we had burn them to the ground. How could I know that they can grow at such speed and damage the walls?!

Listening to him, Asterius calmed down instantly. He already knew where his true enemy was lying: in the Sanctuary.

-The Tree…..he growled. The Silver Tree…

But Rolf misunderstood his words and he quickly reassured his uncle.

-No, no, don’t worry! The Silver Tree is safe. I’ve placed my best squadron there to protect it.

-The bastard. Asterius spew the word, without further explanation. He opened the drawer of his desk and took out a vial. He slipped it in his pocket with a smirk; the Silver Tree was as good as dead. He then turned to the young commander and barked a few orders, then dismissed him. Rolf Asterianus left in a hurry.

-So you are here, my rebellious son! murmured Asterius, looking outside.

Soon it would be dawn and he had to go and reach the Sanctuary. He has ordered Rolf to move away the squadron of White Guards and send them to protect the Council of Elders. He needed to get to the Silver Tree undetected, if he wanted to finish his work. He took his hooded cape and left the house.

At the same time, Gondwana was ferociously opening way for Satoru’s team. The young leader knew that his father was not sleeping peacefully in his bed. Oh, no! He was sneaking somewhere in the streets, trying to do as much harm as he could. Cora was focusing on both the dangers of the battle and the faint call of the Silver Tree. Ogren was backing them up, pushing back any attempt of hurt against his friends. In the heat of the action, he sometimes changed into a big brown bear, sending the attackers to the ground with one hit of his large paws. They’ve got at the Sanctuary at the same time with Asterius.