No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor was a reward for what he gave. - Calvin Coolidge Enjoy The misty haze began to settle back again, taking on a limey hue. A sour and stale aroma began to fill the pit as the Ahamkara released its guttural exhales. The creature disappeared behind a veil of haze once more, and Raven pushed herself up against the wall. Kepariks growled a low, angry snarl as it raised its shock dagger. A loud almost mechanical slicing noise echoed as an enormous black talon split the air and landed just in front of them. The pair, stunned, held their breath and counted their heart beats. “Warriors mine,” the booming voice of the Ahamkara resounded. “Come to me.” There was another quake beneath their feet and the rocks split apart. Vines and roots erupted from the ground and slithered towards them. Raven’s eyes widened as her heart rate intensified. She felt a pair of strong arms slide under her body and lift her. Kepariks repulsive musk overwhelmed the filters in her helmet. Kepariks quickly blinked away from the plant tendrils. “Why do you run, did I not say I was benevolent?” More vines exploded from the ground and whipped at the pair. “It claims benevolence…” Kepariks whispered, “But shows only malice. Something… wrong.” “What should we do then?” Raven questioned, knowing it was right. “For the first time in centuries, warriors mine, I shall bask in the light of the sun.” More tendrils snaked their way out of the ground and chased after the pair. Kepariks stopped its futile attempt to run, the now jungle of vines and roots was too overwhelming. They caught it and took Raven from its arms. The vines shot them up, the light slowly creeping back around the pit. As the mist broke, a roaring sound of the waterfall broke the eerie silence. Light flashed into their eyes, Raven slammed hers shut and covered her face. She felt a wet rip in her side, coughing blood from the sudden shock. Kepariks kept his eyes forward, trying to find the Ahamkara. The vines stopped and pulled the pair forward. The Ahamkara was bigger than anything they had imagined. A mythical dragon, feathered wings and talons longer than any full grown redwood tree. Raven watched, her eyes finally adjusting to the blinding light, as it took in a mighty breath. A roar echoed louder than anything she had heard. It shook the ground and rippled water. Clouds were scattered and loose rocks avalanched down mountains. One of Raven’s ears ruptured sending waves of pain through her head. The throbbing returned and everything felt the pressure. She wailed, slamming her hands over her helmet. Kepariks was much the same. It clutched its ears and screeched as blood flowed from beneath its hands. “Now, listeners mine,” the Ahamkara began, turning is white-green eyes toward the pair. “Take heed, there is a story that must be said.” “Monster!” Kepariks yelled removing its bloody hands from its ears. “Kill me or release me… There is no time for idle talk!” “THERE IS MUCH TO SAY!” the Ahamkara snarled bearing its enormous teeth to the Fallen Baron. “I have listened; through millennia I have listened. Now I shall talk and YOU shall listen!” “Luka,” Raven cried, fighting back the tears. “What can we do, can you call the ship?” “I’m sorry I can’t.” The sincerity of her voice broke Raven’s emotional barricade. “This wasn’t supposed to happen,” Raven as the tears fell from her eyes. “Now there is no one who can help.” “Huntress Raven,” the Ahamkara turned, “You cry from pain and fear, but have I not said I am benevolent? Despite you committing the original sin?” “Wha… What?” “You ignored the law of equivalent exchange and stole from us our knowledge. With that knowledge you refined power. You are but gluttony and corruption.” “Do not take my prey… monster.” “You!” it scowled, “Mind your tongue Creature Kepariks. Your kind is familiar to me. Removing arms of the lesser, casts based purely on power, power alone obtained through murder. You know not the value of life. You are simply wrath and delusion.” “Every Fallen… proves worth.” “That is no excuse to force them into a sword logic to prove they deserve to exist!” Kepariks roared in anger and struggled against the vines, cutting them with its knife. “SIT DOWN!” the Ahamkara yelled as it took hold and shot Kepariks toward the planet surface. It crashed into the ground, bounced, then skidded into a tree. Kepariks could not breathe, the wind knocked from its lungs. Quivering in pain, it coughed up blood. The whistling of ether from a ruptured tube on its helmet was barely audible beyond the ringing in its ears. Kepariks armor was cracked and dented, its cape in tatters, its prized skulls gone. “The Creator KNEW what it wanted! DO NOT mistake its intent. There is nothing of equal or greater value than a life.” Turning back to Raven, it lowered the vines to the ground and dropped her next to Kepariks. Lowering its head, it stared the pair down. “Luka, is Kepariks alive?” “Barely, life signs can fade at any moment.” “Take heed, listeners mine, each of you has something to be learned.” The Ahamkara drew in a deep breath, gathering its thoughts. Releasing a slow exhale, a stale, repulsive, ancient odor pierced the air around them. Raven and Kepariks gagged on the pungent aroma. “There was once a time my kind flourished. But you decided we no longer served a purpose.” The Ahamkara glared at Raven. “Do you feel that? My sea of loathing rushes from every fiber of my being. A Great Council was fed filthy lies that fueled their decision of eradication. They were told power was obtained in exchange for life, a price too great.” “The Great Ahamkara Hunt,” Raven whispered. “Precisely, Huntress Raven. No writ, no law, no agreement stopped guardians from seeking our power. Our arrogance and desire to prove our innocence granted promises for equivalent exchange. But that did not stop the Great Council. We were hunted and driven to extinction. I alone took refuge beneath the surface, turning inward. I looked long at my own reflection, drowning in that sea of loathing. Suddenly, violently, it changed. I saw you, a sickness rising. Everything that was once good died. What remains, is how to teach you the lessons that must be taught.” Kepariks struggled to reach into its belt. It hoped that the transmitter was not damaged. Thumbing through the pouch, it found a small cylindrical machine. It brought its shaking hand up to inspect the transmitter. The transmitter was covered in dirt, a little bent, but seemed intact. It slowly lifted one of its digits and pressed in as hard as it could. The button on top of the transmitter gave way and a soft beeping sounded followed by a flashing red light. Dropping its arm, Kepariks coughed up more blood and listened, praying that its signal would be heard. “I cannot justify killing you,” the Ahamkara continued. “But, I cannot leave you be…” The atmosphere dimmed and a bright pink light cycloned above the Ahamkara. The nose of an enormous Ketch broke through, its bulbous body falling in after. Pointing down, it dragged its fat tail over the head of the creature knocking it to the side. Shock cannons went off as sounds of thunder rang. Skiffs broke orbit and landed around the creature. Looking down, a dim grey static began to whistle. A cloud the color of a dead television screen began to electrify as Vex stepped out to challenge the creature. “Your Wolf Kell?” Raven said scooting to Kepariks. “No Kell… Archon… Rising…” Kepariks wheezed weakly. “You need to get out of here, the Vex don’t follow the idea of the enemy of my enemy.” “No… Will fight. Honour to the House of Wolves.” A pair of Vandals, some Dreg, and a couple Shanks cut through the forest. Looking down at Kepariks, the Vandals directed the Dreg to assist. The Vandals and the Shanks narrowed their eyes at the sight of Raven and took aim. Their howls and electric hums filled with killer intent. Kepariks raised a hand as they took aim. Reluctantly, they lowered their weapons. “No honour… killing injured prey.” Pointing to the Ahamkara, preoccupied by the Vex assaulting it, Kepariks continued. “Great honour… killing the monster.”