Kiela sucked in a deep breath and griped the bridge railing nanoseconds before the wall of water thudded down. The weight was immense, and crushed her and sucked her backwards. Then, the water surged upwards around her, and her hands slipped. Her claws dug furrows in the wood before she was yanked away. She gasped and spluttered as her head broke the surface. Pieces of wood and bodies floated by her in the muddy water. The bridge was out of her reach and growing farther and farther away. Kiela found it hard to swim, the weight of the stone weapons weighing her down.

Kiela, the Kilangar! Sylnav jolted her into action. Fighting against the current, she threw the stone weapon and it hooked around the bridge support. Hand over hand Kiela clawed her way up the rope and fell, spitting up water, over the side of the bridge.

Get up! Sylnav ordered, and a rush of energy from the goddess filled her. Kiela shoved the Kilangar into her belt and stood up, surveying the battle. Her heart sank. The faceless had crossed the bridge and had flooded the grassland on their side of the river. Everywhere she looked there were bodies clad in the brown leader of her village, or with the braided hair of Kym's.

Where's Drisnôk, and Connix? she asked herself. They must die. Cold fury lit her bones and she flung herself back into the battle in her wolf form. Faceless after faceless fell to her flashing fangs, and her anger permitted her to have no mercy. Still though, throngs passed over the bridge and it seemed that the battle would never finish.

Great Eursa! Kiela prayed. Please let it not end like this!  Three faceless surrounded her, with long spears. She lunged, only to feel the blunt end jab her in the stomach before she fell stunned to the ground. The faceless jabbed at her eyes when she came too close and she howled in rage. despair filled her, and with it came a burning power. she growled, and all three faceless were enfolded in a bright green flame, incinerating them where they stood. She didn't move, and even Sylnav was left to stunned silence.

What was that? Kiela asked.

It was my magic. Sylnav replied. Somehow you managed to access it.

Can I use it now, to my free will? Kiela queried.

I doubt it. Now stop hesitating, and go find Connix! Who knows how many he's killed while you sit here blabbing to me!

Kiela surveyed the heaving throng and saw a flash of red reflected through the rows of warriors. She took off towards it, and came to a break in the fighting. Connix stood there, twirling a double bladed weapon. He cut down everyone that tried to attack him. A warrior ran towards him, and they both shifted at the same moment. The two-edged weapon clattered to the ground as they faced off. The small mouse shifter seemed to realize its mistake, and tried to run. It was too late. Connix kept, bowling it over and slashing with his teeth. He stood over it, teeth bared in a feral grin.

"No!" shrieked the small shifter, its voice sounding like wet shale scraping over stones. The small mouse's body was decorated in wounds, blood oozing from its side. Connix reared back for the final strike.

Suddenly, a mat of golden fur slammed into him, and twin paws raked the night. Tori's fangs fastened themselves in Connix's throat. She shook him and then threw him away, his body slid across the grass, slick with blood. Kiela stood, unable to move. Horror filled her.

The body of the large cat shimmered and morphed, shining fur receding into skin. Connix struggled and then rose to meet her. It was as if the battle ceased around them, friend and foe alike pausing to watch the terrible exchange.

"Connix!" Tori shouted. "Stop this!" She paced towards him, but Kiela noticed that she still had her claws out. "Ever since the day you came here, I have been you friend, and you have been mine. Open your eyes and see the destruction that you have wrought!"

He laughed, a harsh sound. "You are a fool. I am no one's friend."

"You were mine." Tori said steadily. Her eyes stayed locked on his. She took another step forwards. "But you have been possessed, you have been corrupted. You have turned on those you love in the service of a god who has long been overthrown."

Connix snarled warningly, red fur like the blaze of the sun beginning to emerge around his nails. Tori purposely ignored him, but uncertainty edged into her voice.

"Fight it! I know you can fight it." Her voice rang across the plain, resonating in all of their ears.

Connix snarled in defiance, and slipped a blade out of his sleeve.

"Tori, watch out!" Kilea screamed.

Connix charged at her, face morphing into that of a fox. With a sound that was half snarl and half scream Tori flung herself at him, striking towards his chest with a blade of her own. Connix just managed to get his arm up in time to deflect it with his band. He returned with a stab at her leg.

Arms fastened themselves around Kiela's neck, throttling her. She chocked for breath, flipping her assailant over her shoulders. Its empty face stared up at her, and she choked down bile as she slashed it across its throat.

A scream echoed around them, and Kiela looked up. Blood flowed from a cut of Tori's forehead, and matted the soft fur around Connix's claws. Tori shuddered, and raised to her feet, adopting a defensive stance. Kiela wanted to wail and her hopeless bravery.

"You were my friend?" Connix asked. "I used you for power. You were too caring, and your love clouded your vision. Open your eyes!"

In a blur of motion, Tori raised her foot and kicked Connix in the chest so that he doubled over. She jumped towards him, uttering a fierce war cry. Blood spun off of her her head in red tendrils that spread over the ground. Tori shoved back his blade with a complex manoeuvre so that it was lying against his arm. Panic flashed in Connix's eyes as Tori raised her blocker and slammed it down, shattering his knife. Bits of flint arced through the air as Tori flicked her dagger up to his throat.

"You're better than this." she whispered. "You can fight. I know you can." She gazed into his eyes, searching for any hint of the friend she remembered.

"Connix, listen to me!" she said when he gave no reply. Sobbing now, Tori raised her blade to deal the death blow.

Blades of silver emerged beneath Connix's fur, and he curled his claws into a fist.

"No!" Kilea shouted, and she dove towards them. A faceless soldier grabbed her leg, but she kicked at it savagely and threw it off. It was to late. Connix arched his claws and dug them into Tori's belly. Her mouth formed an O of surprise and she fell as if in slow motion, scraping across the ground. Black blood like water ran down her skin and sank into the earth. The red liquid mixed with the stones, gluing them to Tori's skin. As she lay gasping on the ground, flesh exposed to the stinging air, mocking, cruel laughter echoed throughout the battleground. Red hair gleamed in the broken sunlight as Connix turned his back and walked away.

Choking back sobs, Kiela raced towards Tori. Her body lay broken on the grass, but as Kiela approached she fluttered open her eyes.

"Ki-la?" she asked.

"Yes, I'm here." Kiela answered. She looked at the wound, salty tears rolling down her cheeks. Torn flesh mixed with blood and entrails in Tori's chest. The flies had already begun to settle. Kiela knew that not even Sylnav's magic could heal such a wound.

"Help... Me shift Ki-la. If I am... To die, I would that it not be... In this form. " Tori panted. The words seemed to drain her strength.

Uncertainty filled Kiela's face. Can it be done Sylnav? She asked. Tori looked up at her with a hopeful expression.

I do not know. Sylnav responded, sounding troubled. Such a thing has never been done, to force a shift. It would certainly take all my remaining energy.

I don't care. Kiela spat out. Even if it kills both of us, do it.

You should not be so rash. Sylnav replied angrily. The outcome of this war rest solidly on what you do. I will do it, but I am not pleased...

Kiela growled back at her and rested her hand on Tori's brow. The same light came up as the one that had healed, but this time Tori's tatoo flared and weakly came to life. The form of the noble and proud mountain lion came over her, and Kiela too shifted so she could understand Tori's words.

"I am not scared," The girl said. "For I know I have secured myself a place in Sylnav's hall."

She has, brave warrior. Sylnav said, her voice sounding sorrowful.

"Kiela." The words were so faint that she could barely hear them. Tori's claws scrabbled in the dirt and her words came in heaves of her shattered chest. "You... must kill him."

"I will." Kiela vowed. Tori rested her head back on the ground as the light faded from her eyes.

"No!" Kiela sobbed. "Tori!" She lay crying as the battle raged around her, fury blazing in her eyes. Her tears seeped through the dirt, and the salt taste coloured her mouth.

She stood. Heat and incredible anger filled her, flashing through her body like lightning. Her hands spammed and she grabbed two knives out of her belt, one in each hand.

"Connix." She hissed. "You did this."

She marched through the crowd. A faceless rose up before her, but without stopping she slashed it diagonally with both her knives, forming an x. It fell to the ground with a howl.

A white tipped tail flicked around the base of one of the cliffs, and Kiela shifted and dashed after it. Connix jumped upwards and with two paw holds pulled himself up onto a ledge. He shifted and faced her.

"Looking for me?" He taunted. Kiela shifted as well and fired an arrow. He ducked and it buried itself three inches into the rock.

"It looks to me like I've already found you." She retorted.

"You still need to catch me." He answered. A hard and cold look was in his eyes. Kiela saw what it truly was. A willingness to kill. Without a word she launched herself up the rock face, using her short sword to grip. Connix let her climb onto the ledge before attacking.

His dual edged weapon sliced through the air and she deflected it just in time. Three other equally fast blows left her gasping for breath.

"What in the name of Fajr is that?" Kiela grumbled to herself. Connix just laughed.

"This is the Drâvondr." He explained. "It is Drisnôk's creation." Kiela sliced at him but he dodged. "The dual blades are best for both offence and defence."

The blunt end came hurling at her and she ducked too late. The back of the blade cracked against her skull and multicoloured tips of light flashed across her vision. With a wordless cry she hurled her knife at him and it sank into his arm.

The Drâvondr slid over the edge of the cliff, and smashed itself to shards on the rocks below. Kiela stood to face her enemy. All humour was gone from Connix's eyes, and as she watched he pulled the blade from his skin. Light shimmered and the liquid flesh melded together once more.

Kiela charged at him, but with unnatural strength Connix jumped to land half way up the rock face. "Come and get it." he taunted. When she didn't move he smirked. "You were always a coward. When they all came after you, you ran."

Kiela growled and hurled herself after him. Connix made no move to climb higher. When she was level with him on the rock face she kicked out, holding onto the ragged stone only by her fingertips. Her feet connected and Connix lost his grip, sliding down further. Kiela pushed with her legs and scrambled further upwards. The rock scraped open the tips of her fingers and the blood made it harder to grip.

Connix snarled from below her and Kiela felt him latch onto her legs. The extra weight almost tore her off the cliff. Kiela looked down at the ground, a dizzying distance away. Her fingers began to slip.

"Weak, you were always weak." Connix snarled. with a heave he yanked himself upwards, using her body as a ladder. "You could never beat me." Kiela twisted and writhed, trying to shake his weight off, but it was to no avail.

Connix kicked her in the face, splitting her lip. They both dragged themselves upwards, and Kiela once more aimed a shot at the fox's head. She saw the edge of a plateau above her, and swung herself upwards. She landed on her feet and and drew her knife. Looking down at the belt, she frowned. There were only four left.

Minutes passed and the only sound that reached her ears was the whistling of the wind and her own rattling breaths. Slowly, ever so slowly she edged her way to the edge and looked down. Nothing was there. She looked left, and right, but didn't see anything.

With a flash a body soared over her head and Connix landed behind her. She whirled around, narrowing her eyes.

"Thought you'd gotten rid of me, didn't you?" Connix asked.

"No." Kiela replied. "That would be boring. I look forward to hearing you scream."

"Funny." Connix responded. "My lord says the same thing about you."

Kiela brought her guard down on his blade, shattering it before he could speak.

"Hard to kill someone with no weapon."

"Don't worry." Connix drew another out of his belt. "I always bring a spare." He slashed at her neck and she blocked, retaliating with a feint and then a slash at his leg. The pair duelled, getting closer and closer to the edge of the cliff. Worry filled Kiela as she looked at the approaching edge.

I have to finish this. she thought. Kiela made as if to attack his right side, but then kicked his blade arm squarely. Once again the flint shattered.

Hatred filled Connix's eyes. He grabbed a broken piece of the knife and lunged at her. His arms trapped her head and he put her in a headlock as she squirmed against him. The broken piece slashed through her leather weapon belt and it dropped to the ground with a thud. Connix's boot fell onto it in a smooth, deliberate action, breaking all her remaining knives at once. Flint pieces arced through the air, tearing at their skin. "Now what are you going to do?" he asked.

Kiela bit him, her human teeth tearing through skin and hitting bone. She spat out gobs of blood as Connix stumbled away.

Kilangar. Sylnav told her. Kiela drew the weapon and managed one solid hit before Connix grabbed it and threw it over the edge.

Both their weapons were gone, knives shattered, arrows exhausted. There was only one more thing. Kiela shifted and attacked.

Her teeth met in Connix's throat, and she shook him back and forth. He hissed and cursed, claws tearing pawfulls of fur from her shoulders. Kiela smacked him over the head with one of her paws before dropping him to the ground. Fury blazed in his eyes as he struggled to raise himself to his feet.

"Connix, you could've had a good, long life. You would've had friends, you would've been an asset to the village. But now you are going to die. Your life has been nothing but ruin, and you will have no place in Sylnav's hall when you pass."

Connix spat fury. "I would rather be with Drisnôk that with the rest of you right, honourable people. Kiela, it is not over between us." he struggled vainly to rise.

"Goodbye Connix." Kiela said. She lunged and her fangs pierced the great jugular vein at his throat. She howled her victory to the sky. Connix's dark body lay alone on the rocks.

A/N this chapter killed me. Tori has long since been my favourite character, and killing her off actually made me cry. I hope that you liked the chapter. Please remember to vote and comment.