(Edited - 16/5/17)

Paddy rushed over to Stripes' side. Seeing her sorrow, anger burned in his belly. Unable to contain it any longer, the dog launched himself at the mysterious figure.

However, Paddy was knocked away easily by one of the zombies. The sharp tip of a spear was pointed at his muzzle.

"Feisty," the unknown figure said mockingly. "Reminds me a lot about the wolves who used to live in the fields."

Paddy growled. "How do you know them?"

"I feel so sorry for you. You are clearly oblivious to many things." If Paddy could see his face, he would be smirking. "Some of those wolves used to work for me, but they were all traitors in the end. I simply disposed of them."

"How... could you..." Paddy snarled. "I wouldn't let you talk about my friends like that!"

"It's too bad they are dead," the figure taunted, seeming to take pleasure in mocking the furious dog.

"That's... the final straw..." Paddy growled through gritted teeth. He broke into a sprint and lunged for him, recklessly ignoring the danger.

One moment Paddy was airborne, heading towards the unknown figure, the next moment he was struck with a spear. It sent him sprawling with a long cut near his belly.

Paddy grimaced at the stinging pain on his pelt, struggling to get on his paws and attack again.

Stripes stopped him, her eyes pained as she shook her head.

"Stripes... I will help you avenge your parents..." the dog growled as he winced at his wound. Blood was slowly oozing out and turning his white pelt red.

"If it means losing you, a friend, I can't let you do it," the tuxedo cat meowed, her voice thick with sorrow.

"Sergeant!" The diamond armoured zombie burst into the throne room when he was called, kneeling in front of the cloaked figure.

The figure's unforgiving gaze turned towards Paddy and Stripes. "Kill them. I have no need of them anymore."

There was nothing they could do. The zombies surrounded them, blocking any possible escape route. Sergeant advanced, his odd diamond sword in one of his dark green arms.

Stripes was too weak with grief to fight. Terror was gradually consuming her as she cowered in fear, expecting the worst.

Sergeant was barely a block away from them. Paddy bristled, summoning his remaining strength to utter a growl of defiance.

The zombie raised his sword. Time seemed to slow down as the blade moved painfully slow towards Paddy, with the intention to kill.

Death seemed inevitable for Paddy and Stripes that moment. The cat shut her eyes, willing it to be over in a blink of an eye.

At least, that was what Paddy thought at that moment. A blazing flash of white light came out of nowhere, blinding everyone in the room.

When the light vanished, Paddy gasped in shock. Stripes' eyes widened as they landed on a human holding an enchanted diamond sword, blocking Sergeant's attack.

When the zombie registered what happened, he tooked shocked, almost terrified by the sight of the person who saved Paddy and Stripes from their certain doom.

Sergeant stumbled backwards, his supposedly hollow eyes shrunk in fear. "I-impossible..."

"Frost!" Paddy gasped. She looked different. Her eyes seemed colder than he remembered as she stared at Sergeant, which reminded him of someone... and she looked rather... faint.

"That's impossible! You are dead!" the cry of outrage came from the mysterious figure, his voice raised in agitation.

"Is that really you?" Stripes was trembling as she hesitantly padded towards her.

Frost nodded, her eyes reflecting sadness, before turning to the mysterious figure. "Leave my friends alone, Trance."

The figure, whose name was Trance, looked furious. "Your friends?" he spat in disdain. "They are animals!"

"That's something you will never understand," someone else sneered.

That's when Paddy noticed Fern standing at a dark corner of the throne room, hidden from sight until now. Had she been watching us?

"My my, Frost. I never thought I would see you here," Fern said, causally walking up to her. "I thought you were obedient one."

Frost sighed. "Nevermind whatever I said earlier."

"I knew you would agree with me!" Fern grinned. "Now, let's kick some zombie butt. It's truly exciting to fight enemies again, isn't it?"

"Frost, you know Fern?" Paddy asked, terribly confused.

"Explanations later, fighting first," Fern interrupted. "Unless you want to end up as a corpse, which I can arrange."

Frost nodded, raising her sword and pointing it at the zombies. "Stay behind me."

"Or you will get slashed," Fern added laughingly, taking out a bow and loading an arrow into it.

"What are you waiting for?" Trance snarled. "Kill them all!"

The zombies hurriedly brandished their weapons and charged, with Sergeant leading the attack.

Meanwhile, Stripes' eyes were filled with tears. I never thought I would see her again...

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One can safely assume that Frost and Fern are somehow connected... but in what way?

Find out in the next chapter!

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