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Last of the Shadow Foxes: 2 Recovery

Subway 303, the last stop after civilization. Completely deserted. That is except for some lowly beggars. Or at least, what appeared to beggars. Emerson heaved away the grate and climbed out of the tunnels. Gavrilla followed behind him. Emerson saw the beggars, dressed in filthy rags and covered in grim and dirt.
“What are these beggars doing here? Couldn’t they slip your secret?” He asked the guild master. Gavrilla laughed.
“Beggars? Emerson my dear, these aren’t beggars.” And with that she gave a shrill whistle. Before Emerson’s eyes a haze descended on the ‘beggars’ and when it lifted, in their places were several bandits.
“What? Where? When?” Emerson spluttered, stunned by the sudden transformation.
“It’s a skill we learn called Discloak, allows us to meld into crowds to avoid attention. Or, in this case, provide sentries without revealing our hideout.” The hermit explained to the baffled assassin. Emerson looked at the bandits wearily. Gavrilla called over a bandit. His name was Sawyer and he too had the maple leaf mark over his left eye.
“Sawyer here will accompany us on our hunt. He’s an expert scout.” Gavrilla whispered in Emerson’s ear. Sawyer twirled his Shinkita in one hand and gripped his Maple shield in the other.

The trio traversed through the ancient remains of the subway lines. Emerson’s hand started to shake. Gavrilla noticed but chose not to mention it.
“So, what are we hunting?” She asked instead, her Dark Katina boots crunching on the gravel.
“Anything, I just need to know I still got it.” Emerson replied.
“Skill?” Sawyer inquired, joining the conversation.
“Sanity.”

For a while there was nothing, only the occasionally glimpse of monsters’ shadows in the background. As they turned into a maintenance tunnel, they arrived straight into a pack of Luster Pixies. Gavrilla cast shadow web and Sawyer used savage blow. Emerson leapt over the stunned Luster Pixies and his Kumbis rained down on them. In a matter of seconds, the unlucky Luster Pixies were no more. The three split the drops between them. Emerson donned his newfound Dark Pilfer whilst the hermit pocketed the white potion for Mali and the bandit kept the Dark Crystal ore.

The hunting party rested in the maintenance tunnel to regain their breath. Emerson fiddled with his pilfer and Sawyer was continuously cleaning his Shinkita. In the dim light of the tunnel, Gavrilla’s eyes stared at Emerson.
“So tell me.” She finally asked.
“Tell you what?” Emerson answered, looking back at the hermit.
“What happened in the Deepwood Forest?”
Emerson sighed; his hand began to shake again.
“Our guild, Shadow Foxes, was going on a hunting trip. It’s an monthly trip, to hunt for Stone Golems and collect Red Moon and Red Moon pants or ores.” Emerson started, gesturing at his own Red Moon fatigues.
“It’s easier to hunt the Stone Golems in the forest, the environment benefits us and hinders them. We were doing well and had collected a good supply of Black Crystal ores.” He continued, pointing to the ore Sawyer had beside him.
“Remus scouted ahead for more golems and he found one. Except it wasn’t really a golem. It was like your Discloak skill, that’s why I was shocked. I don’t know what it was…no I do, it’s Murder…it scythed through us without even one of us getting a good attack in. Fantine…” Emerson trailed off, the name bringing back the horrible memories.
A tear trickled down his cheek. Followed by more and more tears.
‘F-Fantine…Remus…they’re all dead! Why them? Why not me? Why such a cruel fate? Why me? WHY?”
Emerson broke down and sobbed into his sleeves. Sawyer sat frozen, unsure what to do. Gavrilla moved over and place an arm around the boy.
“Shh, It’s alright. You want to know why you? Because, you have talent, you were given a second chance. Don’t you dare waste that chance. What would your guild leader say? Crying your eyes out like that. You’re a Shadow Fox for the Dark Lord’s sake. Remember that.”
Emerson wiped his red eyes and glanced up at the Maplejutsu guild leader.
“You mean that?”
“Sure as sure.”
Sawyer peered outside.
“I think it’s time to go back.” He called, standing up.

As they returned back to Subway Station 303, Gavrilla swivelled around to the assassin.
“Emerson, I’m going to help you and I’m going to kill that creature which killed your friends if it’s the last thing I do.”

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Last of the Shadow Foxes: 4 Dejection