Arcan slowly trudged along the sandy dunes of Anfauglir Desert, searching for the Stronghold of Angband. He held in his hands his native longsword and a scrunched up scroll. Normally Arcan would be on the lookout for bounties but this time he was trying to remove one. It wasn't for some stranger or a friend, but for himself. He had quite a collection of them, marking him a target of an unknown person who wants him dead. Arcan didn't know who or why but he was determined to end it.

A drop of sweat dripped from the tip of Arcan's nose and he wiped his forehead. The sun's rays were beating down on him and burning him. He didn't have any armour on or he'd probably be dead by now. He looked at the scroll with rage and pocketed it and moved on. He didn't expect the desert to be this harsh and is paying the price of his arrogance. He felt close to collapsing and was dehydrated. He grabbed a bottle of water and started drinking. He had to be careful about how much water he used as there were very little sources of it. Arcan saw sand clouds billowing upward and his eyes widened as an arrow came streaking from behind a dune. He rolled to the side and it missed him completely. He got out his own bow and started firing normal arrows like crazy. He couldn't see his targets nor could they see him but both sides were shooting over the dune nonetheless. Arcan heard a howl of pain and smiled. He felt the stinging sand hit his legs as more arrows came flying at him and hit the ground. Arcan found himself moving back as he fired more projectiles and finally saw a bit of his target and knew they were bandits. They were attempting to rush up the dune.

Arcan loaded his bow with a barbed arrow and fired it at the first bandit but missed him. He fired another and struck the leg of a bandit next to his first target. Arrows were being launched at a slower rate as the bandits closed on Arcan, suffering the occasional casualty. He decided that arrows were no longer enough as he had killed around five bandits, only to see two more quickly take their place. He put away his bow and conjured a fireball. "If you think the desert is hot, then try this on for size!" Arcan launched the fireball into a group of bandits and it hit its mark. The group crashed into the dune and the others saw it. Their morale quickly dropped and hesitated. This gave time for Arcan to churn out another fireball. He hit the bandits who were still lying down on the dune and made two kills. The others were blown in different directions. Arcan sighed in fustration when he saw six more bandits coming down from the dune. Give me a break! How many are there?

Large footprints were embedded in the sands of Anfauglir Desert, but these prints were not made by any humanoid being in Arda, they were far larger and looked more like the prints of a Lion. Of course with the size of the prints it would have to of been a very large Lion that had made them, the prints seemed to trail on forever but what exactly was it that was making them? Following the prints for over two miles a large beast could be seen with someone mounted upon its back, the beast had two powerful looking wings coming out of its sides showing that it was capable of flight.

The one mounted on the large beast was wearing a full set of armour, golden the sun that beat down on the sands. Now most people would think this man to be insane for wearing such an armour but he was not, for the armour held a special ability within it that made sure the wearer stayed at comfortable temperature at all times while wearing the entire set. Thus the man was never to hot or even to cold, which always helped in battles in such places as the Tundra and this Desert. Something was strange about this being; he had to very large white angelic wings protruding from his back clearing showing which race he was. At first sight this angel may have seemed like nothing more than a heavily armoured fool but what others would not know it the other magical things he had with him.

On his hands were varies different rings, one was a simple wedding ring clearly showing he was married, two more of them were a Ring of Feather Falling and a Ring of Jumping, the other three rings this angel wore on his hands were a magical Pearl Ring as well a Flame Dance Ring and a Amber Ring of Replenish. Also strapped onto each of his wrists were strange looking bangles that increased his physical power. Under his armour he had also sewn two magical cloaks into a tunic and a pair of trousers, the one that had been sewn into a tunic was a Winters Embrace that graced the angel with the powers of Ice at all times while the one sewn into trousers was a Cloak of Neutrality which protected the angel from varies poisons, Blind, Silence and Arcane Insanity. The only other equipment he had with him was a Mithril Shield strapped tightly onto his left arm as well as a sheathed golden blade known as Salvations Judgement hanging from his waist, it was this very weapon that would give the identity of the angel away, he was known to many in Arda as the Archangel of Life Zenith Meria.

Running his hand over the head of his mighty stead Zenith said, “Well Gabranth we should be their very soon old friend, I thank you for your help. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be mounted on a Manticore that fought by my side.” The Manticore, which was mainly part Lion and part Scorpion, nodded slightly in reply to what Zenith had said as the pair continued to walk through the Desert. The reason they were there was because Zenith had heard of an Organisation set up somewhere deep in this Desert that killed innocent lives whenever they could as well as take people hostage to aid them in their evil plots. It was these kinds of people that the Archangel could not stand, and thus he had set out to finally end their operation once and for all.

As the pair travelled farther through the sandy wasteland of Anfauglir a small sand storm began to pick up, but that was not the direct thing that caught the angels attention, it was the noises that began to happen right after the storm had started. It sounded as though a group of men were are war, the swift sound of arrows passing through the air could be heard as well as screams of pain as men were killed. Hearing this the angel tapped his foot against the side of Gabranth making the Manticore run faster through the sand storm trusting the judgement of his master.

A fireball was seen hurtling through the air towards a group of cloak men with various different weapons, that was when Zenith caught sight of the symbol on the back of these men’s cloaks, it was the group he had heard of! Zenith had now found his mark and it looked as though they were trying to kill hard to kill someone, what was strange though was that they had sent so many men to attack only one man. However Zenith had to let that thought go for a moment, whoever this man was the angel needed to save him and fast.

Gabranth started to run even faster, drawing in closer and closer for the fools in the cloaks. As the Manticore got close enough to attack it quickly turned to its side and used the Scorpion tail to attack the hunters. The tail ripped into the hunters skull before crashing through the other side and instantly killing him, after this one warrior had fallen a group of six seemed to circle around Zenith and Gabranth, while a lot of others would be worried by this Zenith seemed to be very calm.

Raising its tail once more the Manticore let out its other special ability, which sent venom filled quills out. Each of the quills hit one of the six men that had circled around the pair and was slowly filling the fools up with a powerful poison. With this done Zenith and Gabranth headed out towards the man who was being attacked to see if he needed to be healed. The pair knew that the enemy still had a far greater number but Zenith Meria was about to cast one spell that would turn the tides of this battle, as he drew nearer the attacked man the angel raised his right hand into the air casting one of his many spells.

Instantly the skies opened up and rain began to heavily impact upon the sand of the Desert, with luck the angel and whoever was being attacked would be able to use this new environmental status to their advantage in the upcoming battle for their lives. It was not long before Zenith could see the figure up ahead, he did not want this man to think he was an enemy and so to stop him from attacking the angel held onto Gabranth casting his Teleport spell to make the duo reappear next to the man that had launched the fireball. The white winged angel jumped off his Manticore and looked right towards the man before saying, “I am Zenith Meria, think of me as your Guardian Angel for this day. I am here to help you Sir.” Once saying this the Archangel of Life withdrew his golden blade into his right hand and stood ready to battle whoever would dare come close enough, as he did this Gabranth also made ready his tail for another poison attack.

As if his prayers were answered a beast known as a Manticore came into view and attacked the bandits. Arcan didn't pay attention to what they were wearing until now. Normally they wouldn't wear capes but the insignia is what caught Arcan's attention. So the Crimson Dagger decided to hit me below the belt huh? That is so their style. The Manticore had a winged rider, which probably helped direct the beast's attacks. Arcan saw some men circle the mounted Manticore but they soon felt the beast's poisonous sting. A climate change suddenly occured and rain began to fall. The Crimson Dagger sent out to ambush Arcan were bewildered and so was he. The rain would benefit and disadvantage Arcan. The rain would cancel out the worry of the desert's heat but his fire spells would be weakened or just fizzle out immediately. The Manticore and the rider suddenly disappeared then reappeared next to Arcan. The rider then jumped off and greeted Arcan. "I am Zenith Meria, think of me as your Guardian Angel for this day. I am here to help you Sir." "I am Arcan Zarikon. I thank you in advance for the help." Arcan was impressed with the Angel suddenly appearing to his aid when he least suspected it. Zenith must be mad to wear all that armour but seeing him change the weather suddenly, Arcan put aside that doubt. An officer of the attackers called out to Zenith. "This has nothing to do with you Angel! Leave now or pay the price!" Arcan suddenly got angry. "Just shut up!"

Arcan pulled out his bow and loaded a barbed arrow. He launched it and saw it strike the officer's chest. It didn't kill him but definitely did some major damage. Still in a sudden fit of rage, Arcan let loose three more barbed arrows at the officer. Only one of the three struck him but was hit in the left lung, narrowly missing the heart. Arcan calmed down and sighed. "Sorry about that. I have a blood debt to pay these murderers." An arrow struck Arcan's right shin and he knelt down. He fired a normal arrow at his attacker but missed. The pain caused him to wobble when he fired. "I'm okay. Just hold them off while I heal this wound alright?" Arcan pulled out the arrow and spoke an incantation. "Halous." The wound started to heal over. I just hope he didn't take it as an order, seeing as our lives are on the line.

Instantly after Zenith had announced himself to the man he was replied to with the words, "I am Arcan Zarikon. I thank you in advance for the help." However Zenith did not answer back, instead he only nodded at the man and turned his attention back fully to the mass amount of on comers as one of them said, "This has nothing to do with you Angel! Leave now or pay the price!" Yet before the angel had ever gotten the chance to speak out for himself the man known as Arcan said, "Just shut up!" and began to send out what seemed like a volley of arrows out to everyone. Of course he had managed to get the man that had spoken ill of the angel but it came at a price as an arrow hit Arcan. He then asked Zenith to hold off the attackers while he healed himself up. Again not having a chance to answer Zenith let out a small sigh and stepped forward slightly saying, “Ok then, myself and Gabranth will hold them while you heal but don’t take long, I don’t like taken orders from those I do not know.” With that said the Archangel and the Manticore got ready to attack.

As the rain beat down upon his golden armour and the sand started to soften around his feet the angel held onto Salvations Judgement tight in his right hand, the blade them began to glow with a holy light as the powers of Holiness infused itself within it, but this was not the attack of the angel, no this was merely to serve as a beacon shall we say. The angels plan had worked as he noticed the foolish beings start to fire arrows towards him, with a smirk curving along his lips from below his helm Zenith cast his Magnetopause on himself which made the arrows sent through the air to deflect off of Zenith due to their metal arrow heads.

As the cloaked figures began to reload their bows with another arrow Zenith knew it was the right time for him to strike. Quickly he pushed his left hand towards the bow wielding assassins, by doing this the angel caused a massive bolt of lightning to fall from the sky and strike the middle man of the group, of course because of the summon rain spell that he had used before the rest of the group were also badly shocked from the lightning bolt as it passed along the water around their feet and up through their bodies. But the Archangel of Life was not done there; he then turned towards Gabranth and said, ”Fire some more quills in their direction in order to show we are not holding back!” The Manticore did as asked and fired out more envenomed quills out towards those that were attacking Zenith and Arcan. Even though the battle looked like it was tilting in the favour of Zenith and Arcan the Archangel somehow knew deep within him that things were going to get worse, after all anyone planning an ambush would do the smart thing and sent out their weakest links first in order to slow down and slightly weaken their targets.

Arcan's wound was apparently serious as his healing spell took longer than he was used to. The wound disappeared from existance and Arcan stood. He got his bow ready and fired three arrows at a ranger. Zenith had cast a spell that blew the arrows fired at him away. Lightning hit a Crimson Dagger soldier in the middle of the group and the rain caused the shock to travel across the sand, affecting a lot more of them. Arcan saw this was also the Angel's doing because he had his hand out toward them. The beast known as Gabranth fired more poison quills at them. Their lines began to thin out but Arcan got worried. Whenever that happened ina force such as this it means a powerful being on their side was coming. Mages soon appeared from the dune and cast lightning spells similar to Zenith's. They're trying to delay us. Someone in charge of this ambush is coming I know it!

Arcan felt cold steel touch his shoulder and he turned his head around. Five Crimson Dagger warriors were in view an the closest one was already beginning to strike. Arcan rolled to the right in time to see the sword hit the wet sand. The attacker seemed to have dual swords and a few blade related spells as well as he swung his second sword, releasing an arc of lighting. Arcan jumped back and the arc hit a dune, causing it to explode. Wet sand came down in electrified clumps but the electricity didn't last long enough to shock everyone. Arcan pulled back on his bow and fired a barbed arrow at his attacker. It struck his left arm and made him drop his sword. Instead of hitting the sand it dissipated in yellow smoke, as did the other sword. Summoned blades. That explains the magic. Three of the warriors came charging down while the last one summoned a demonic bow and a set of arrows to match. Black arrows started flying toward Arcan as the warriors came closer. The Spellsword in the group started shooting small streaks of lightning at Arcan. Arcan looked around for an escape route. He saw a gap between the main force and the small ambush group. He started running toward the gap as black arrows landed around him, letting purple energy electrify the and around them.

They've already adapted to the rain. This isn't like them. Someone must've told them I was coming. The three warriors gave up on chasing Arcan and advanced on Zenith. That reminds me. "Thanks for the help but I gotta run!" Arcan approached the top of the dune and jumped over it. His heels slightly dug into the wet sand and he started sliding down the dune. The mage turned around and fired Chain Lightning at Arcan. It struck the sand ahead of him and it exploded. The shock knocked Arcan off his feet. He landed near the bottom of the dune on his back. His bow slid down and stopped near him. Must've lost grip of it. Arcan grabbed his bow and launched a barbed arrow at the mage. The arrow struck the mage's neck and severed his spinal cord. He fell forward into the battle on the other side. Hope that Angel listened.

This wasn’t good at all for the warriors, mages nor the archers that Aaris had hired for this day. She stood at the back of the assault, watching as one by one her hired help were being slayed. They were awfully weak, so it wasn’t much of a surprise until one of the archers came up to her, “They have an angel, and some sort of beast. Lady Aaris this isn’t looking good at all!” Aaris’s dark green eyes glared at the man, he was almost her height but still a little short. Her head slightly cocked down, “You know what they say, if you need a job done do it yourself.” The man took a step back, never wanting to get Aaris angry but the thing was, no one could really tell when she was going to destroy her comrades. Instead of loading an arrow into the man’s chest, she walked out of the covering to see the hurls of dust from sand. Soon the archer who came with the bad news was quickly ignored.

Rain was falling outside and a thought if this was an arcane art, or maybe nature. It rained so rarely in the desert. Maybe it was just one of those odd days. Her black hair became weighted down with rain, same with her feet; for her feet almost sank to her ankles. This wasn’t any good at all. But luckily her body was born with wings, thus flapped upwards so she could get a better look. There was indeed an angel, a figure she had meet once before, and the sudden sight of him drew her face. In her mind she almost wanted to vomit about the matter of holy angels getting in her way.

She needed Arcan, dead or alive.

From below was the archer who gave the bad news, “What do you wish me to do?” Aaris said nothing for a moment. Her eyes watched the sand dune still, “I wish you were dead you worthless creature.” Her voice was thick full of hatred, and she aimed at the man’s head with her finger and cast magic missile. Quick as light, the purple energy fired like an arrow struck the man in the head. He ran away from the battle, so he is useless.

On the other side, she spotted Arcan, getting up and over a sand dune. But in Aaris mind it meant, “Getting away from the angel.” He didn’t seem strong compared to the angel, and if she could keep silent about her assault, then maybe she wouldn’t have to deal with that angel until she was done with Arcan. Attack strategies swamped though her mind as in an instant her body disappeared into an unknown void. Just as suddenly, it had reappeared on top of the sand dune Arcan went down on. Next to Aaris’s feet was the mage her just killed, the only feeling she felt, that she didn’t do it. Oh how she loathed failures.

As she looked down, she saw Arcan. She used this rain to her advantaged, and hid in the darkness. Hoping to slip away from sight before she saw her. Now then, this won’t take long. That thought made her think why in the world did she even ask for help from petty beings who couldn’t catch a rabbit, dead or alive? From her quiver from the back she reached for a barbed arrow, and took it in her razor bow. Pulling the string ever so quickly, she aimed at Arcan’s chest, then fired from the rainy darkness.

Arcan saw a lady appear on top of the dune. She got a bow ready and had an arrow nocked into it. Arcan couldn't see what bow it was nor the arrow type. She released the arrow and it went straight for Arcan's chest. He rolled to the right and the arrow hit the wet desert sand. He heard a cheer of victory from the dune battle. "He's gone! That damned Angel is gone!" Arcan knew this was bad. Why the Angel suddenly left he had no idea. Crimson Dagger soldiers were already coming over the dune. Arcan looked back to see what was behind him. He saw nothing but sand and heat. The rain stopped and the clouds started to break apart. The desert's cruel climate slowly came back into effect. The Crimson Dagger forces were slowly approaching Arcan. No...I won't let them win! I've worked too hard on eradicating them for it to end like this!

Rangers readied their bows and a barrage of arrows ensued. Arcan immediately turned around and ran as fast as he could. The arrows soon hit the ground Arcan was standing on. There would have been battalions of rangers as the arrow storm continued. Foot soldiers gave chase and Arcan knew he couldn't win but he wasn't going to surrender. That's not his thing. Arcan turned his head and fired a fireball at the small army massing behind him. He knew the fireball was a wild shot and he wasn't really counting on it to hit them. As the arrow barrage ended a barbed arrow struck Arcan's right foot. He fell forward and landed flat on his face in the blazing sand. He spat the sand out and reached for the arrow in his foot. As he struggled to pull it out the soldiers were catching up fast. Arcan needed a boost of strength. "Strengthen!" Arcam felt the spell come into effect instantly. His added strength got the arrow out and he got up. He turned around to see a warrior about to swing his sword. Arcan jumped back and launched a fireball at him. The warrior was quickly enveloped in flames. Arcan threw another fireball at the ground in front of the Crimson Dagger soldiers in front of him. It exploded and dust sprayed in their vicinity. Arcan turned around again and ran, his added speed helping him. I may not be able to keep this up forever, but they won't be able to catch me for a while.

Running seemed like a juvenile feat to partake in, flying for that matter as well. Chasing after prey had its exciting moments, and boring moments in life. Excitement died down a long time ago as the attacker got fed up that their needed to be more than a dozen fighters to take one human man. Capturing one man dead or alive didn’t take over a dozen men; it only took one Aaris, which was what the pursers had. Gently her head shook side to side with thick lashes hanging down in a bow as she remembered why she studied so hard grasping the arcane arts. It was so she wouldn’t have to run or fly just to capture prey, learning how to teleport was one of her first spells that she could remember. Once you began to teleport chases are you’ll never run again.

Instead of getting herself hot with droplets of sweat running down her face, she much rather get this over with. You have been a waste of my life, Aaris thought to herself as her darken emerald orbs shimmered a glace at the sprinting man before she closed her eyes once more. Her pale face seemed peaceful while drawing up two slim digits from her left hand to her lips, close enough to feel the coldness from its kiss.

Soon a magical charge ran up her spine to the nap of her neck, tingles of tickles swarmed in her brain. Then in an instant she felt nothing at all and knew that the spell had taken place. Quickly the magical traveler opened her dark orbs again to see the man she had been attack run towards her. Maybe he hadn’t seen her yet for he was too busy running from a wall of arrows. For a moment Aaris stood in awe thinking what it would be like if she was being attacked like this. Such a thought spooked her in an odd way to the point where she began to wonder just what would it take too loose her supremacy until she was being hunted down like a deer? Strongly she gulped, obviously not liking that new idea at all for the moment. Don’t think like come on look in front of yourself, she yelled in her mind as she forced such a thought out of her mind

He was still sprinting away from his pursuers. From gazing at the arrows, her dark jewels found their way back to the man, that poor man who was prey. A wide diamond like grin couldn’t be helped as Aaris knew that it was all going to end soon one way or another. The man evidently couldn’t keep running in this desert which had little to no hiding places. With people behind him chasing him, and with the dark lady in front of him, there was no way that the fallen angel could see that could possibly save him. Yet you never knew sometimes strange things happen to those who pray.

Was that what he was doing when all else failed? Could he be praying to a deity that would come down and claim the attackers has its victim? Maybe, no probably but that was the risk she was willing to take to get a job done. She could never let go a duty she had, no way no how. Soon this would be over soon, and the excitement in her veins couldn’t help but boil as he eyes widen in excitement. Now her calm relaxed face seemed to have a wild insane look; as once darken orbs now gleamed with wideness.

Outstretching both hands to the small of her back, she withdrew a slim bow with her right in curling digits. With her left she grasped a barbed arrow from her quiver, feeling the arrow was a since relief because without an arrow ready for a bow she felt somewhat naked in battle. Taking an archers stance, she pulled the bow back slowly letting the muscles of her arms ripple with the feat. The sound of string pulling back made a small wining sound as she aimed for the head of her target. Such a direct hit may kill him, which was the plan of her aim. A drawback from this tactic was a head was a small target; all a person would need to do was move at the right now.

Then in a flash of an eye she let go of the string, and the whistling arrow burst though the air. Wind wasn’t going to let the man die, at least not this day, so it blew rather hard in fact, tugging the arrow from her target. Still the arrow hit the man’s head, but at an angle to where the barbed didn’t go into his skull. The only thing he would feel would be the hard feeling someone may have if they were hit by a pebble really fast. Such a lack of blood told Aaris that it wasn’t a fatal hit, and soon foot soldiers gathered around the body like a hawk. Even if the darken angel wanted to kill him, she couldn’t because they were blocking her way.

Lowering her bow, she looked up at the clean sky with no sign of wildness. In fact her face seemed almost happy like a child getting their first hug from a parent who they thought hated them. Success, she thought as the crimson daggers seemed to cheer all around her. Soon she would have Arcan in her grasps, no more chasing him around which was the only good news she cared about.

((Arcan gave me permission to knock him out.))