Price of Ambition

The Question

Rain fell like bullets. Plants clawed at fur. Breath harsh and ragged. But still she ran. Where was she? Where was she going? She had no answers. But she would still run. Run as far as it took to be free of the Clan. 

She still couldn't believe it. Her whole life she had been told 'Quin you are destined for greatness. You will make the Clan proud.'

And what was that 'greatness'? To be a hollow shell for an evil being to inhabit. She could still hear the screams of the child who had gone before her, echoing constantly in her skull. How could her former Clan mates think that was acceptable? How could they worship a creature who brought that kind of pain? 

No, Lopdiemis were no gods, no true form of power. They were vile beasts, capable of nothing more than destruction and pain. They were a blight upon the land, one that no one did anything about! 

… But she could. 

Yes. Yes, that was it! Her true calling. The true 'greatness' in her future. She was no Damsel ready to be sacrificed to the beast. She was no vessel for those monsters. 

She was the one who would purge the land. The one who would end the devastation and suffering. 

She was the one who would end the Lopdiemis. 

Partners

It did not take long for the organisation to grow. Attacks were frequent and many survivors wanted the justice they deserved. 

Soon she had more warriors at her disposal than she knew what to do with. She was a leader, yes it was in her blood and very soul. But she was no warrior. No commanding officer. What she needed was a partner to lead by her side. 

And she knew just the one for the job. 

The mountains of Ethia were not kind to strangers. The wind whipped through her fur, threatening to push her off the side of the steep cliff she stood beside. The snow had frozen into her fur, clumping together in thick, icy mats. The chill of the air had seeped into her bones which now creaked and protested with every movement. 

But Quin stood strong and proud. Her purple pelt a stark contrast to the brilliant white snow surrounding her. But she was not as obvious as the one who stood in front of her. 

Huckleberry was her name. A massive, powerful warrior- one who had overthrown the leader of her pack. Her thick coat kept her well protected from the biting winds and she towered over even Quin herself- who was already a tall Kamishiba, standing taller than the average. But she was nothing compared to the warrior Shourinokobi in front of her. 

"Huckleberry." Quin greeted with a nod. "The tales do not do you justice. A legend in the flesh and so much more."

The dark Shouri grinned, sharp and wide. 

"Quin… Your reputation precedes you."

"Then one who has done research such as you must be able to guess why I am here."

Huckleberry chuckled. 

"Perhaps. But I want to hear you say it."

Quin smiled back, sly and coy, as she began to circle around Huckleberry, her long tail grazing over the warrior's thick coat. 

"You, Huckleberry, are a warrior of legend. Tales of your victory over your once leader have reached even the furthest reaches of Aurora Land. Stories of your prowess have not escaped my notice."

Huckleberry preened under the attention but remained quiet, gesturing with a purposeful glance for her to continue. 

"You are a leader of untold potential. But you are wasted here in the snows of Ethia. I have gathered a great army to defeat the plague of evil beings who infect my home land. But they need a strong guiding hand to keep them in check. I alone cannot lead an army and an organisation. You on the other hand my dear Huckle, you are the perfect candidate to lead my army. Strong, intelligent, a natural leader- they would flourish under your command. So my offer is plain and simple; join me, lead my army and stand by my side as my equal. Together, we can destroy the evil that not only infects my homeland but yours as well."

Quin held out a paw once she had finished circling back around to Huckleberry's front. The warrior glanced at the paw, a massive eyebrow raised. Quin would deny how she held her breath. Huckleberry shot her a sharp grin. 

And a massive paw took her own in a firm shake. 

The Fortress

Under Huckleberry's watch her armies grew in size and discipline. Everyone had a role to play and would fulfill it with their last breath. Their dedication to the cause and to Huckleberry was both inspiring and worrying. Quin was not certain she wanted her soldiers to die for her cause - she was trying to prevent unnecessary deaths, not cause them. 

Everyday more and more Kamishibas arrived, pledging themselves to Quin's cause and to Huckleberry's leadership. The army was rapidly outgrowing the small camp they were currently occupying. They would need to find more permanent residence. And quickly. For many weeks, scouts had been sent out into every region of Aurora Land, searching for the perfect place for the army to make their new home. The ones that had been sent to the surrounding area came back first, without good news. As the months went past, more scouts returned, each bearing the same bad news. There seemed to be no place in Aurora Land for them. 

Then just as she was ready to give up the hunt, a strike of divine luck; a scout returned, saying he had found an empty castle in the mountains. The camp was dismantled and they marched on, to the snowy kingdom of Stardust's Doom. The scout led Huckleberry and Quin to the castle they had found. It was a sound structure with minimal structural damage - it seemed that the harsh winds and winters of Stardust's Doom could not do much to the fortress besides removing a few roof tiles. It was also large. Extremely large. It could comfortably house an army three times the size of theirs with room still to spare. 

It was perfect. 

The Invitation

Word of the organisation spread rapidly once they had taken the castle for their own. Many expressed nothing more than curiosity, some even came to join. Messengers were constantly coming and going, many directed to Huckleberry. Quin was far too busy for such matters. The large room at the very top of the castle's tallest tower was the one chosen to be her study; the base of all operations. A large wooden table stood proudly in the centre of the room, an equally large map of Aurora Land was spread over its surface. The map was incredibly detailed, more so than any other map that could be bought in the market. Pins detailing their position as well as the positions of allies and known Lopdiemis locations were pressed into the map. The beasts seemed to be on a rampage, destroying villages as they crossed the land. If the model was to be believed, the next village that would be hit would be a small village in Shibai. She had already sent a few soldiers a head to warn the residents and help them evacuate. 

A knock on the door disturbed her thoughts. 

"Enter." She barked. 

A young recruit peered in, their eyes averted as their voice shook. "There's a messenger for you, my lady."

"Send him to Huckleberry, I have no time for messages."

"He's… He's very persistent. My lady… He says he bears an important invitation that you wouldn't want to miss."

She heaved a sigh. Seems this messenger would not leave until he had spoken with her. 

"Very well, send him in."

The messenger was a scrawny Kamishiba with patchy fur and a too sharp grin that revealed his many missing teeth. 

"Greetings 'Lady of the castle'." The Messenger mocked with a comedic bow. "What an honour it is to finally meet you."

"I was expecting a messenger, not a court jester." She drawled. 

"My lady! You wound me." 

"I will do more than that if you do not tell me why you have demanded my presence."

"Very well. I come bearing an invitation from the esteemed Emperor."

Quin frowned at that. There was no 'emperor' in Aurora Land- it was not an empire and had no rulers of any kind. She raised an eyebrow, gesturing with a paw for the messenger to continue. He cleared his throat, puffing out his chest. 

"The Emperor invites you to join him for one of his delightful Pit shows. He has heard many things about your organisation and wishes to extend a hand of friendship. A positive relationship between the two organisations would be most profitable, he believes."

The offer intrigued Quin. Many individuals sent messages offering friendship but none acted on behalf of another organisation. An allegiance could be beneficial. 

"Very well. Tell your Emperor that I accept his invitation." 

The sharp grin of the messenger grew, splitting his face. 

"Excellent choice. He looks forward to meeting you at our next Pit Show."

The Pit

Quin was not sure what exactly she had expected the 'Pit' to be. Perhaps she was expecting a mine. Perhaps a theatre. It did not matter as the Pit was neither of these things. It was carved from the very mountains it resided in, hidden from view and accessible only through a small, concealed entrance. If you did not know it was there, you would walk right past without a second thought. It was even concealed from the air, no unsavoury characters could just stumble upon The Pit - it was an exclusive venue where only those on the invite list were allowed in. 

The lobby behind the entrance consisted of a few food vendors and a bookie - what they were betting on, she was yet to find out. Before she could investigate further, she was found by the messenger and guided up the stairs to the Emperor's box. 

The Emperor's box was a luxurious seating room, complete with velvet chairs, mahogany tables, and it's own butler. It had only three walls and a banister where its fourth wall would have been. The Box overlooked what she assumed the Pit was all about; a grand colosseum. The stands were filled with the moving bodies of Kamishiba, eager for the show to start.

"Ah, you must be Lady Serrell." A voice greeted her. 

A strange Kamishiba approached her, no doubt the Emperor she was here to meet. 

"A pleasure to meet you, Emperor." She gave the offered paw a firm shake. 

"The pleasure is all mine. Shall we take a seat? The show is about to begin and I wouldn't want you to miss a second of it."

Quin only nodded, taking one of the velvet chairs as the Emperor took the other. 

"What deal do you wish to make?" Quin finally asked broaching the subject of her visit, tired of beating around the bush and the vague way the Emperor spoke. "Surely you did not invite me for mere pleasantries."

The Emperor chuckled. "You are quite right; I did invite you for more than just pleasant company and a show." They paused to take a sip of wine. "You see, my business here survives because we are the king of this mountain. No other authority has ever been able to challenge us in a way we could not manipulate to our own advantage. And then you came along. We exist in the shadows, and yet you and your army are a light, exposing the mountain so all can see it."

"I hope you are not attempting to intimate me into leaving the mountain."

"Quite the opposite, my dear. I am personally supportive of your goal and want to see your army grow. That is why I am extending a hand of friendship. I believe my business could be useful in providing your armies with bodies and a place to test their skills - or punish the traitors."

Quin did not enjoy the glimmer in their eyes. 

"And in return?" 

"All I ask is you keep the secret of my business. We wouldn't want any uninvited visitors now would we. Of course, you don't have to make a decision right away. Now, enough business, the show is starting."

Glowing eyes looked down into the coliseum. The iron grates had been lifted and two Kamishiba came sprinting out. It was a bloodbath. The two Kamishiba tore each other apart as the crowd cheered. There was no winner. Both perished. And yet the crowd seemed more enthusiastic than disappointed. It was disgusting. Quin had never spun in the higher circles but if this was the sports they enjoyed, she wanted no part of it. 

She would not return.